Nigeria’s Super Eagles have held the upper hand in their senior men’s international meetings with Iran, winning twice and drawing once in three recorded encounters.

The head-to-head record highlights Nigeria’s advantage over Iran, popularly known as Team Melli, with the Super Eagles yet to suffer defeat against the Asian side in their documented meetings.

Their most recent encounter came on March 27, 2026, when Nigeria secured a 2-1 victory in an international friendly in Antalya, Turkey, extending their unbeaten record against Iran.

Nigeria vs Iran: A Look at Previous Meetings

The football history between Nigeria and Iran features encounters spanning nearly three decades, including a competitive World Cup fixture and international friendlies.

January 28, 1998: Nigeria 1-0 Iran

Nigeria recorded a narrow victory over Iran in the Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong. The match formed part of the Super Eagles’ preparations for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and gave Nigeria an early advantage in the teams’ head-to-head history.

June 16, 2014: Iran 0-0 Nigeria

The two nations met again at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where they opened their Group F campaigns with a goalless draw in Curitiba.

Nigeria, managed by the late Stephen Keshi, struggled to break down Iran’s organised defence, while the Asian side secured a valuable point in their first match of the tournament.

March 27, 2026: Iran 1-2 Nigeria

Nigeria claimed their second victory over Iran in the teams’ recorded senior international history during a friendly in Antalya, Turkey.

Moses Simon opened the scoring for the Super Eagles before Akor Adams extended their lead after the break. Iran responded through Mehdi Taremi in the 67th minute but were unable to complete a comeback.

The victory reinforced Nigeria’s dominance in the fixture, giving the West African side two wins and one draw from three meetings.

Super Eagles Maintain Advantage Over Team Melli

Nigeria’s record against Iran reflects their ability to deliver results in different competitive settings, from pre-World Cup preparations to the global football stage and international friendlies.

The 2014 World Cup encounter remains the only match between the sides to have ended without a winner. While Iran managed to frustrate Nigeria in Brazil, the Super Eagles have otherwise emerged victorious in their meetings.

Their latest triumph in Turkey further strengthened Nigeria’s position in the historical matchup, with the team maintaining a perfect record of avoiding defeat against the Asian nation.

Nigeria vs Iran: Head-to-Head Statistics

Based on the three recorded senior men’s international meetings, Nigeria hold a clear advantage over Iran.

• Total matches: 3
• Nigeria wins: 2
• Iran wins: 0
• Draws: 1
• Goals scored by Nigeria: 3
• Goals scored by Iran: 1

The statistics show that Nigeria have scored three goals and conceded just one across the three encounters, underlining their defensive resilience and narrow but consistent advantage.

With two victories and a draw to their name, the Super Eagles will look to preserve their unbeaten record should the two nations meet again in future international competitions.