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Super Eagles’ March Friendlies in Jeopardy amid Middle East Unrest

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles upcoming friendlies against Jordan and Iran slated for Amman this month may be called off due to the joint military action by the USA and Israel against Iran.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Jordan and Iran at the four-nation invitational tournament.

Éric Chelle’s side will do battle with Iran in their first game on Friday, 31 March.

The three-time African champions will clash with Jordan four days later.

Safety of the teams and also the presence of Iran at this invitational tournament have been called to question.

Iran has hit back at USA and Israeli assets in Jordan, Qatar and UAE, Syria and Saudi Arabia to further compromise security in the Middle East.

SPORTS

Super Eagles Friendlies against Iran, Jordan Moved to Turkey

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The Jordan Football Association (JFA), has announced a new venue for the four-nation invitational tournament involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Iran, and Costa Rica.

The tournament was initially scheduled to be held in Amman, the capital of Jordan.

Antalya, Turkey will now host the competition which will help the hosts Jordan,and Iran, prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“The Jordan Football Association has decided to move the matches of the four-team international friendly tournament, scheduled for March 2026, to be held in the Turkish city of Antalya, due to the current situation in the region and the limited movement of people,” the JFA announced on its official website.

The Super Eagles will face Iran in their first game on Friday, 27 March. Jordan and Costa Rica will also meet on the same day.

Eric Chelle’s side will confront hosts Jordan in their second game on Tuesday, 31 March.

Iran will also keep a date with Costa Rica on the same day.

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SPORTS

Over 20 Schools Set for Third Athletics School Games in Lagos

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No fewer than 20 schools are set to participate in the third edition of the Athletics School Games (TASG), a grassroots athletics competition for school children scheduled to be held in Lagos.

The 2026 edition of the competition will take place from March 20 to March 21 at the sports complex of Yaba College of Technology.

Seun Akinbohun, President of TASG, said in a statement on Wednesday that the competition, designed for children aged between four and 16, will feature participating schools competing in sprint races, middle-distance races and field events.

Akinbohun said the initiative, which began in 2024 and is registered with World Athletics, had continued to attract increasing participation from schools.

He noted that the third edition would introduce an expanded format aimed at improving athlete development and the overall competition structure.

“For the first time, primary school events will be separated from secondary school contests to allow for more races, better scheduling and improved recovery time for young athletes.

“Technical officiating, timing systems and event coordination have also been upgraded to meet higher standards,” he said.

Akinbohun said the games would provide a platform for talent discovery and exposure for young athletes while also promoting sportsmanship and character development among participating schools.

According to him, the Kashopefoluwa Sportsmanship Award will be presented to athletes and schools that demonstrate integrity, discipline and respect during the competition.

He, however, noted that the event had faced challenges, particularly in funding and sponsorship, with much of the competition being self-financed.

He added that infrastructure limitations also remained a concern, as equipment and venues were often independently sourced.

Akinbohun said the project had continued to grow, with each edition recording improvements in organisation and participation from schools in spite of the challenges.

“The unique part of the 2026 edition includes the introduction of new events such as the 400m hurdles in the senior secondary category, improved officiating and increased participation from schools.

“The games remain strictly schools-based, with clubs and academies excluded in order to strengthen inter-school sports programmes,” he added.

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Trump ‘ll Welcome Iran at World Cup – Infantino

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US President Donald Trump has said Iran are “welcome” to take part in this summer’s World Cup despite the countries being at war, according to Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

Posting on Instagram, Infantino said he met with Trump on Tuesday to discuss preparations for the tournament, which is being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico and gets under way on 11 June.

Infantino said he and Trump “spoke about the current situation in Iran”.

Iran are scheduled to play three matches in the US, but their participation has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched strikes on the country this month, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries which host US military bases – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said.

“We all need an event like the Fifa World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the president of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.”

Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June respectively and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

Trump last week told Politico, external “I really don’t care” if Iran play in the World Cup.

Following the outbreak of military action, Iran football federation president Mehdi Taj has been quoted as saying: “What is certain is that after these attacks, it’s hard to look at the World Cup with hope.”

Australia has granted six humanitarian visas to members of Iran’s women’s team over concerns about their safety.

The remaining Iran players left Australia on Tuesday after the team’s elimination from the AFC Asian Cup.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said seven people were granted asylum, but one woman later changed her mind and opted to return home.

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