Depleted Super Eagles squad to Face Russia on Tuesday
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed that Club’s refusal to release their players apart from injuries to notable names have no doubt weakened Super Eagles squad ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly match against Russia.
Recall that Captain Wilfred Ndidi was knocked out by an injury sustained during last week’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau, while midfielder Raphael Onyedika was prevented from travelling to Russia by his German club, Eintracht Frankfurt.
Defender Bright Osayi-Samuel and UAE-based midfielder Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola were not released 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 development has weakened the Nigeria squad for the encounter against Russia with whom the Super Eagles battled to a 1-1 draw in another friendly in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium last year.
Late invitee, Ibraheem Ajasa of FC Rostov of Russia, was expected to join the team camp in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday evening.
So far, 18 Super Eagles are currently in Russia.
They are:
Goalkeepers: Michael Atata; Samuel James; Stanley Nwabali.
Defenders: Kenneth Igboke; Isaac James; Benjamin Fredricks; Emmanuel Fernandez; Abdullahi Bewene.
Midfielders: Chibuzo Nwoke; Stephen Michael; Igor Wilfred; Aderemi Adeoye.
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho ; Moses Simon; Akor Adams; Peter Edokpolor; Abubakar Umar; Abdullahi Umar.
