The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to face Jordan in an international friendly in Amman, a fixture that could carry added significance as both nations navigate contrasting paths toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

For Jordan, the match is a key part of their build-up to a historic first appearance on football’s biggest stage. Jamal Sellami’s team has been drawn into a daunting World Cup group alongside defending champions Argentina, African powerhouse Algeria and a well-drilled Austria side. The meeting with Nigeria offers Jordan a valuable test against a physically strong, technically gifted opponent with deep tournament experience.

For Nigeria, however, the friendly is overshadowed by uncertainty. The country’s participation in the World Cup remains in question as FIFA prepares to rule on Nigeria’s eligibility protest against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The dispute stems from Nigeria’s challenge over Congo’s use of an allegedly ineligible player during the qualifying campaign, a case that could yet reshape the final list of African representatives.

Officials close to the Nigerian camp indicate that the team’s availability for the Amman fixture hinges on the outcome of that ruling. A favorable decision could thrust the Super Eagles back into the World Cup picture, instantly raising the stakes of every preparatory match. An unfavorable verdict would force a rapid recalibration of priorities, turning the Jordan encounter into the start of a longer-term rebuilding cycle rather than a tune-up for a global tournament.

In parallel, Nigeria is also in advanced discussions to arrange another friendly against Iran in the same international window. That proposed fixture, against one of Asia’s most consistent World Cup participants, underlines the federation’s desire to keep the team competing at a high level regardless of the legal wrangling off the pitch.

For now, the planned clash in Amman symbolizes two nations at different moments in their footballing journeys. Jordan, buoyed by the momentum of qualification, seeks to harden itself against elite opposition. Nigeria, a traditional African heavyweight, waits anxiously on a boardroom decision that could determine whether its next chapter unfolds under the bright lights of the World Cup or in the shadows of what might have been.