By
Arinze Izik
The Super Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on Russia in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to use the game to run the rule over fringe players and new invitees, according to http://BSNSports.com.ng.
The match comes shortly after Nigeria’s inconsistent opening to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The three-time African champions started with a 2-1 win against Madagascar in Uyo, but slipped to a heavy 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau in their second game.
Chelle will see Tuesday’s friendly as a chance to look beyond his regular starters and evaluate the squad depth at his disposal before the qualifiers resume.
For the October window, the Franco-Malian tactician has named a largely altered squad, handing opportunities to several uncapped players to make their senior bow and push for a permanent spot.
Russia in fine form
Russia go into the game in strong form, having recorded two convincing wins in their last outings.
Valery Karpin’s men first beat Iran 2-0 in Kazan on September 29, with Aleksandr Golovin netting a first-half brace. They then thrashed Namibia 6-0 in Yekaterinburg on Saturday.
Lechi Sadulaev, Danil Prutsev, Konstantin Tyukavin, Maxim Glushenkov and Maxim Petrov were all on target, with an own goal from the Namibians completing the rout.
The victory was Russia’s fourth in a row, during which they have scored 14 goals without conceding against Iran, Namibia, Burkina Faso and Trinidad and Tobago.
However, Karpin has hinted at heavy rotation for the Nigeria clash, admitting the Super Eagles will be a sterner test and a good measure of his own squad depth.
Super Eagles squad update
Nigeria will be without Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester City and Victory Akpe of Basel, who both pulled out of the squad.
Chelle has drafted in Tromsรธ defender Vince Osuji and Reims midfielder John Otomewo as replacements.
20-year-old Osuji, who joined Tromsรธ from Club Brugge earlier this year, could earn his first senior cap, while 19-year-old Otomewo has also received his maiden call-up.
The squad still has a mix of experience and youth. Stanley Nwabali, Moses Simon and Akor Adams are among the senior figures retained, while Kelechi Iheanacho returns after a bright start to the season at Bursaspor.
Other new faces in camp include Michael Atata, Aderemi Adeoye, Chibuzo Nwoko, Stephen Michael, Suleiman Mubarak, Peter Edokpolor, Abubakar Umar and Abdullahi Umar.
Head-to-head record
Tuesday’s game will be only the second senior meeting between both nations.
Their first encounter at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 6, 2025 ended 1-1. Semi Ajayi’s own goal put Russia ahead in the first half before Tolu Arokodare came off the bench to level for Nigeria in the 71st minute.
The Super Eagles will be aiming for their first-ever win over Russia.
What is at stake
Though no points are at stake, the friendly is a key test for Chelle as he continues to rebuild the team. The loss to Guinea-Bissau exposed some weaknesses he will be keen to fix.
For debutants like Osuji, Otomewo and Nwoko, a solid display could turn a first call-up into a regular place. For established names like Simon, Adams and Iheanacho, it is a chance to prove they remain vital to the new set-up.
Russia, meanwhile, will be looking to extend their winning run and maintain momentum despite expected changes.
Likely line-ups
Russia (4-3-3): Safonov; Silyanov, Osipenko, Litvinov, Krugovoy; Prutsev, Golovin, Barinov’s replacement; Glushenkov, Tyukavin, Sadulaev.
Karpin is likely to rotate heavily. Golovin, Prutsev, Glushenkov and Tyukavin could still feature. Dmitri Barinov and Nikita Krivtsov are injury doubts.
Nigeria (4-3-3): Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Fernandez, Fredricks, Igboke; Onyedika, Nwoko, Michael; Simon, Adams, Iheanacho.
Nwabali is favourite to start in goal, with Fernandez and Fredricks potentially pairing at centre-back. Bright Osayi-Samuel should start at right-back and Kenneth Igboke at left-back. Raphael Onyedika could anchor the midfield with Nwoko and Michael, while Simon, Adams and Iheanacho lead the attack.
