Emmanuel Fernandez marked his first start for Nigeria with a goal as the Super Eagles played out an entertaining 2-2 draw against Jordan in an international friendly in Antalya.
Head coach Eric Chelle made six changes to the side that beat Iran, handing a debut to Yira Sor, but it was Jordan who started the brighter of the two teams. Their quick passing and movement unsettled Nigeria early on, and they were rewarded in the 17th minute when captain Mousa Al Tamari fired home from a cleverly worked free kick.
Jordan nearly doubled their lead moments later, but goalkeeper Francis Uzoho reacted well to deny Al Tamari, who also struck the woodwork during the same phase of play. The Super Eagles thought they had equalised in the 23rd minute through Raphael Onyedika, but the goal was ruled out after the ball deflected off an offside Akor Adams.
The Super Eagles responded quickly and found their way back into the game two minutes later. Adams linked up well with Ademola Lookman before his effort was blocked, allowing Moses Simon to pounce and fire home the equaliser with a low drive.
Nigeria took the lead just before the break when Bright Osayi-Samuel delivered a dangerous ball into the area. The Jordan defence failed to clear, and Fernandez showed great composure to control and finish calmly for his first international goal.
The second half brought more challenges for Nigeria, as Uzoho was forced off with a thigh strain after making a clearance, with Adebayo Adeleye coming on in his place. Chelle also introduced Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi to steady the team.
Jordan eventually found their equaliser in the 77th minute after sustained pressure. Mahmoud Al-Rawabdeh produced a brilliant outside-of-the-foot pass that split the Nigerian defence, allowing Mohammad Ratib Mohammad Al-Dao to finish past Adeleye and make it 2-2.
Nigeria pushed hard for a late winner, but Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila made several crucial saves to deny them. Tempers flared late on when Iwobi was sent off after an altercation, as frustration boiled over in the closing minutes.
In the end, both sides settled for a draw, with the Super Eagles of Nigeria taking positives from the performance as they continue to rebuild, while Jordan maintain momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
