Oct 2, 2026

Super Eagles Begin Russia Preparations as Chelle Welcomes New Faces

Posted By: Julian Daily Gist Editorial Team 0 Comment Eric Chelle, Football News, John Otomewo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Nigeria Football, Nigeria vs Russia, Nigerian Football, Super Eagles, Vince Osuji, Wilfred Ndidi

The Super Eagles have begun preparations in Russia ahead of their international friendly against the Russian national team on Tuesday, October 6, with head coach Éric Chelle using the encounter to assess new players and broaden his options for the future.

Nigeria’s delegation travelled to Russia following the team’s recent 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The friendly against Russia will give Chelle another opportunity to examine players who have recently entered the senior national team picture.

The match will take place at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.

Chelle Makes Changes to the Squad

Chelle initially named a 24-man squad for the Russia friendly, but the group has undergone changes following the withdrawal of captain Wilfred Ndidi and defender Victory Akpe.

Midfielder John Otomewo and defender Vince Osuji have subsequently been called up as replacements.

According to reports, the reasons for Ndidi’s withdrawal have not been officially disclosed, while Akpe is also unavailable for the fixture.

Otomewo recently joined French Ligue 2 club Stade de Reims after previously playing for Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel. His addition gives Chelle another midfield option for the friendly.

Osuji, meanwhile, plays for Norwegian club Tromsø after leaving Belgian side Club Brugge. The defender is now in line for his first senior appearance for Nigeria.

New Players Get Chance to Impress

The Russia game is particularly important for several players who are yet to establish themselves in the senior Super Eagles setup.

Chelle’s original squad contained a number of players receiving their first senior invitations, including goalkeeper Michael Atata of Ikorodu City, goalkeeper Samuel James of SJK in Finland, midfielder Aderemi Adeoye of Ikorodu City, midfielder Chibuzo Nwoko of Fulham and forward Peter Edokpolor of Benfica.

Other young players called up include Suleiman Mubarak, Stephen Michael, Igor Wilfred, Ridwan Abdulrasaq, Abubakar Umar and Abdullahi Umar.

The large number of new faces reflects Chelle’s approach of expanding the pool of players available to the national team.

For some of the youngsters, the Russia fixture could provide their first opportunity to play at senior international level.

Kelechi Iheanacho Returns

Another notable name in the squad is Kelechi Iheanacho, who has returned to the Super Eagles setup for the Russia friendly.

The experienced forward is among the senior players expected to provide balance as Chelle combines established internationals with less experienced players.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, Moses Simon, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Benjamin Fredrick, Raphael Onyedika and Akor Adams are also among the players originally selected for the encounter.

Russia Friendly Comes After AFCON Qualifiers

The match comes shortly after Nigeria began its 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.

The Super Eagles opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo before suffering a 3-0 defeat against Guinea-Bissau in Bissau.

The Russia game therefore provides Chelle with an opportunity to test different combinations while continuing to assess the depth of the squad.

The Nigerian Football Federation confirmed that Nigeria will face Russia at the 44,000-capacity Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on October 6.

Nigeria and Russia Have Met Before

The upcoming fixture will be the second meeting between Nigeria and Russia in 16 months.

The two countries previously met in June 2025 at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, where they played out a 1-1 draw.

Russia took the lead through an own goal by Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi, before Tolu Arokodare scored Nigeria’s equaliser in the second half.

The October meeting will therefore give both teams another opportunity to assess their squads.

What Chelle Will Be Looking For

The Russia friendly is more than just another international fixture for the Super Eagles.

With several players receiving their first senior invitations, Chelle will have the opportunity to observe how the new faces perform alongside more experienced members of the team.

The coach can also use the match to assess different tactical combinations, midfield options and defensive partnerships.

The inclusion of players from the Nigeria Premier Football League as well as those playing in Europe and other foreign leagues also gives the coaching staff a broader look at the available talent.

Osuji and Otomewo Among Players to Watch

Much of the attention will be on the two latest additions to the squad.

Osuji’s inclusion comes at a particularly interesting time because the young defender has moved through European football and now has an opportunity to compete for a place in the senior national team.

Otomewo’s call-up, meanwhile, provides another midfield option following Ndidi’s withdrawal.

Whether either player makes his debut against Russia will ultimately depend on Chelle’s selection for the game.

Super Eagles Continue Rebuilding

Chelle’s Russia squad represents part of his continuing effort to build a wider pool of players for the Super Eagles.

The coach has already introduced several new names into the national-team setup, while retaining experienced players who can provide leadership and international experience.

The Russia friendly will give him another chance to evaluate those options in a competitive international environment.

For the players receiving their first opportunities, the fixture could also be an important step in their attempts to become regular members of the Super Eagles.

The Super Eagles will face Russia on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

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