Super Eagles Arrive in Moscow for Friendly Match

The Super Eagles have arrived in Moscow for the friendly match against Russia scheduled for October 6, 2026. Coach Eric Chelle made necessary adjustments to the squad with the inclusion of Vince Osuji and John Otomewo, who replaced Wilfred Ndidi and Victory Akpe after their withdrawal from the team.

This match marks the second encounter between Nigeria and Russia in just over a year, following a 1-1 draw in June 2025. In that previous match, Tolu Arokodare scored Nigeria’s equalizing goal after Semi Ajayi inadvertently put Russia ahead with an own goal.

Ahead of the upcoming international friendly, the Super Eagles are seeking to regroup following an uneven start in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. They began their Group L journey with a comeback victory against Madagascar, securing a 2-1 win in Uyo. However, they faced a setback in their next match, suffering a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau, where Coach Chelle acknowledged that his team struggled to cope with the hosts’ aggression.

For the match against Russia, Coach Chelle has selected a fresh lineup featuring new players, some of whom are getting their first calls to the senior national team. Among the new squad members are goalkeepers Michael Atata from Ikorodu City and Samuel James, who plays professionally in Finland, along with Stanley Nwabali.

The defensive lineup now includes Kenneth Igboke, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Vince Osuji, John Otomewo, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Abdullahi Bewene.

In the midfield, Raphael Onyedika, Chibuzo Nwoko, Stephen Michael, Igor Wilfred, Ridwan Abdulrasaq, Suleiman Mubarak, and Aderemi Adeoye are stepping up to fill the void left by Ndidi. The forward line comprises recognized players like Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Peter Edokpolor, Abubakar Umar, and Abdullahi Umar.

The friendly against Russia allows the Super Eagles a chance to refine their strategies and make necessary assessments ahead of future competitive matches, especially following the recent mixed results.