Depleted Super Eagles Face Tough Russia Test
The match will take place at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm Nigerian time. It will be Nigeria’s second meeting with Russia in 16 months, after both countries played a 1-1 draw in Moscow in June 2025.
Nigeria, however, will enter the encounter with a depleted squad after seven players withdrew for different reasons. Captain Wilfred Ndidi and Victory Akpe were ruled out through injuries, while Raphael Onyedika, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola were prevented from travelling by their clubs.
Moses Usor was also unavailable after his Austrian club, LASK, refused to release him, while Suleiman Mubarak could not travel because his residence permit had not been secured. The withdrawals have left Chelle with only 19 available players for the encounter.
The situation presents another opportunity for several less-established players to stake their claims for regular places in the national team. Chelle is expected to use the friendly to assess his options as Nigeria rebuild their squad and prepare for the next phase of competitive fixtures.
Russia, meanwhile, enter the game with considerable confidence after recording victories over Iran and Namibia during the international window. Their latest performance was particularly impressive, with the hosts defeating Namibia 6-0 on Saturday.
Nigeria began the current international window with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar before suffering the heavy defeat to Guinea-Bissau. The result has increased pressure on the Super Eagles to produce a more disciplined and competitive performance against Russia.
For Chelle, Tuesday’s encounter is therefore more than a friendly. It provides an opportunity to test new players, correct some of the weaknesses exposed in Bissau and restore confidence in a team still taking shape. With Russia in strong form, the Super Eagles face a demanding test in Nizhny Novgorod.
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