Refusal by some Clubs to release their players, coupled with injuries to notable names, have seriously weakened Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad ahead of tomorrow’s international friendly match against Russia’s senior men national team.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi was knocked out by a small knock sustained during last week’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau, while midfielder Raphael Onyedika was stopped from travelling to Russia by his German club, Eintracht Frankfurt.
Defender Bright Osayi-Samuel and UAE-based midfielder Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola were stopped by their Clubs, while Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe has been stopped from flying to Russia by injury.
Austria-based Moses Usor, who scored on his debut for Nigeria against Madagascar in Uyo on 25th September, not originally listed for the trip. However, when eventually he was requested by Head Coach Éric Chelle, LASK FC told him he should not fly to Russia.
Suleiman Mubarak, invited from Slavia Prague in Czechia, could not travel to Russia because his resident permit has not been secured.
The situation has weakened the Nigeria squad for the encounter against ‘The Boys’ with whom the Super Eagles battled to a 1-1 draw in another friendly in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium 16 months ago.
Late invitee, Ibraheem Ajasa of FC Rostov of Russia, was being expected to join the team camp in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday evening.
*18 SUPER EAGLES IN RUSSIA FOR FRIENDLY MATCH*
Goalkeepers: Michael Atata (Ikorodu City); Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers); Isaac James (Alverca FC, Portugal); Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford FC, England); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Bewene (FC Banik Ostrava, Czechia)
Midfielders: Chibuzo Nwoke (Fulham FC, England); Stephen Michael (Vendsyssel FF, Denmark); Igor Wilfred (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City)
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Akor Adams (Venezia FC, Italy); Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Abubakar Umar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia)
