Tactical analysis: What Eric Chelle got right, and wrong in the 2-1 win over Iran

The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over the Islamic Republic of Iran at the Antalya Stadium in Turkiye, Soccerenet.ng reports.

Goals from Akor Adams and Moses Simon secured a relatively easy win for Eric Chelle's side, but the victory wasn't without flaws.

Soccernet.ng highlights the tactical alignments in Chelle's system against Iran, and the things that didn't work, despite the win.

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What Eric Chelle got right vs Iran

1. The Formation and High Press

Nigeria set up in a 4-2-3-1, a variation of the 4-42 diamond Chelle employed during the AFCON 2025 tournament. With Victor Osimhen out of the picture, the Franco-Malian tactician opted to field Akor Adams alone up top.

The shape that gave them compactness in midfield while allowing the attacking trio freedom to press and combine.

Nigeria surprised Iran from the outset, pressing high and cutting off their passing lanes, and surprisingly, Team Melli kept trying to play out from the back, much to their detriment.

2. Exploiting the Left Channel

Eric Chelle's team took an early lead through Moses Simon, who cut in from the left wing before firing low past the right hand of experienced goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.

Getting a goal as early as the 6th minute completely altered the game's dynamic, forcing Iran, a team that had kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches, to chase the game from almost the first whistle.

3. Lookman as the Creative Engine

Chelle's decision to deploy Ademola Lookman in a free role behind the striker proved productive. Akor Adams started in the injury absence of Victor Osimhen, and doubled Nigeria's lead shortly after halftime, keeping his cool to lift the ball over the onrushing keeper after being played through by Atletico Madrid star Ademola Lookman.

Lookman's ability to find pockets between Iran's lines and pick the decisive pass was the clearest example of Chelle's attacking intent.

4. Akor Adams as Victor Osimhen's replacement

With Victor Osimhen absent, the 48-year-old opted to start Akor Adams, despite Paul Onuachu's brilliant goalscoring form with his club side Trabzonspor.

However, the ability to constantly run at the Iranian defenders stood out, something that Onuachu, respectfully, wouldn't be capable of doing, not at that level.

Chelle's faith in Akor Adams was vindicated. The Sevilla striker scored his side's second goal shortly after the restart, before he was replaced by Paul Onuachu.

What Eric Chelle got right vs Iran

1. Defensive lapses

After Nigeria's second goal, Iran had their best spell of the match and came close to pulling one back on a few occasions. Although the chances weren't clear-cut, Maduka Okoye did his best to keep the scores level until he couldn't.

The Super Eagles visibly dropped their defensive intensity after doubling their lead, a recurring pattern, dating back to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that Chelle has not yet fully addressed.

2. Conceding from a set-piece

Iran found a reply through Mehdi Taremi, who turned home from close range following a defensive scramble at a corner.

Set-piece defending has been a vulnerability for Nigeria, and conceding in this manner against a side that did not even dominate dead-ball situations makes it more concerning.

Many would recall Nigeria almost faltering in the AFCON group stage game against Tunisia, conceding two goals from dead balls after initially scoring three.

3. Inability to see games out

This specific factor, cost Nigeria a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The draw against Zimbabwe in Uyo, the late goal conceded against Gabon that forced the game to extra-time, and the lacklustre performance after losing Victor Osimhen to injury in the loss to DR Congo.

All of these factors, despite Chelle's brilliance, point to his weaknesses when it comes to in-game management.

Iran made four substitutions, hoping to change the dynamic of their play, and it worked temporarily. Nigeria went from dominating to sitting back and inviting pressure, a passive shift that allowed Iran to gain momentum and eventually score.

A team with genuine top-level ambitions needs to be able to kill games off rather than defend a lead nervously against opposition they should be controlling.