The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that several key players have withdrawn from the Super Eagles' friendly squad against Russia. Captain Wilfred Ndidi and defender Victory Akpe were ruled out due to injuries. Ndidi sustained a minor knock during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea-Bissau last week. Akpe, a Switzerland-based defender, was stopped from flying to Russia due to his injury.
In addition to Ndidi and Akpe, three other players were prevented from traveling by their clubs. Midfielder Raphael Onyedika was stopped by his German club, Eintracht Frankfurt. Defender Bright Osayi-Samuel and UAE-based midfielder Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola were also prevented from joining the squad by their respective clubs. These withdrawals have left head coach Éric Chelle with a significantly depleted squad.
Forward Moses Usor, who scored on his debut in the 2-1 win over Madagascar in Uyo on September 25, was not in the original traveling list but was later requested by Chelle. However, Austrian club LASK refused to allow him to fly to Russia. Suleiman Mubarak, a forward from Slavia Prague in Czechia, was also unable to travel due to issues with his residence permit.
The NFF confirmed that 18 players trained on Sunday, and Ibrahim Ajasa of Russian club FC Rostov arrived as a late invitee, bringing the squad to 19 players. The final training session was held at 7:30 pm local time on Monday at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. The Super Eagles are looking to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat against Guinea-Bissau.
Russia, on the other hand, are in better form, having beaten Iran 2-0 and thrashed Namibia 6-0 in Yekaterinburg on Saturday. The Super Eagles are seeking a better result than their 1-1 draw against Russia in Moscow in June 2025. Semi Ajayi's own goal put the Russians ahead before Tolu Arokodare leveled the score.
The friendly match against Russia provides an opportunity for the Super Eagles to assess their current form and make adjustments ahead of future competitions. Despite the challenges posed by the withdrawals, Chelle and his team will look to make the most of the situation and achieve a positive result.
The NFF has expressed understanding for the circumstances that led to the withdrawals and is working to ensure that the team is well-prepared for the friendly match. The Super Eagles' performance against Russia will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as the team looks to build momentum and confidence.
Key points
- The Super Eagles face a depleted squad for their friendly against Russia due to injuries, club restrictions, and documentation issues.
- The team's head coach, Éric Chelle, will have to make adjustments to the squad and strategy to achieve a positive result against Russia.
- The friendly match provides an opportunity for the Super Eagles to assess their current form and make adjustments ahead of future competitions.
