Iran defender, Hossein Abarghouei has conveyed his confidence in his team’s capability to compete against the Super Eagles in the upcoming international friendly set for Friday.
In an interview with Tasnim News Agency, Abarghouei emphasized the team’s thorough preparations and the positive feelings within the camp, adding that the forthcoming matches are vital for Iran’s long-term goals.
“We are grateful that our training sessions are progressing well, and we have established an excellent camp.
I hope we can bring joy to our supporters by achieving favorable results against Nigeria and Costa Rica, as this match represents a significant step towards our World Cup aspirations,” Abarghouei stated.
The centre-back also alleviated concerns regarding the limited collective training time, asserting that the players have maintained their fitness levels despite recent interruptions.
“During our brief stay in Turkey, we have trained effectively. All national team members are professionals, and it is not as if they have just been resting since the onset of the conflict,” he said.
“All the players have been training individually. Our physical condition is satisfactory, and we are prepared to compete with Nigeria.”
The Super Eagles commenced their camp on Tuesday at the Bellis Deluxe Hotel, with 13 players and the technical staff present.
This number increased to 22 on Wednesday, with the arrival of Wilfred Ndidi, who recently joined the squad in Turkey.
Nevertheless, the camp experienced a slight setback as Calvin Bassey withdrew from the squad due to a back injury.
Nigeria aims to deliver a strong performance against the Asian team as both sides continue their preparations for upcoming international tournaments.
The last encounter between the two nations occurred during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where they played a goalless draw in the group stage.