Nigeria arrive Moscow, begin Russia friendly preparations - Punch Newspapers
Super Eagles players and team officials have arrived in Russia on Friday ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly against the hosts on Tuesday, the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed. Having left Abuja on Thursday, the Nigerian delegation arrived at Nizhny Novgorod International Airport, also known as Strigino International Airport, on Friday, ahead of the encounter scheduled for the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. The travelling delegation was made up largely of members of the team’s backroom staff and players invited from the Nigeria Premier Football League. Head coach Eric Chelle, who did not travel back with the team from Guinea-Bissau, is expected to join the delegation directly in Russia, while the bulk of the invited foreign-based players are expected to travel to Russia directly from their respective clubs. Captain Wilfred Ndidi is among the players who have withdrawn from the friendly. With his absence, Moses Simon, who was part of the travelling squad that departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday night, becomes the most experienced player available and is expected to provide leadership for a new-look Super Eagles side against the Russians.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google Home-based players, Chibuzor Atata, Aderemi Adeoye and Kenneth Igboke, were also part of the travelling squad, as Chelle opted for a blend of established players and fresh faces to assess his options ahead of upcoming international assignments. Kayode joins Saka, Musiala, Olise among Nigeria’s lost gems ‘Dele-Bashiru has lots to learn tactically’ Eagles need teamwork to be world-class – Artmosfair Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is included alongside defenders Emmanuel Fernandez, Benjamin Fredrick and Bright Osayi-Samuel, while Raphael Onyedika and Akor Adams also form part of the squad. Chelle has further strengthened the attack with the return of experienced forward Kelechi Iheanacho, who has enjoyed a positive start to his spell with Turkish side Bursaspor. Several players are in line for their first taste of senior international football, including Suleiman Mubarak, Peter Edokpolor, Abdullahi Umar and Chibuzo Nwoko. Ndidi and Akpe Victory were both replaced by Vince Osuji and John Otomewo. Chelle is expected to use the encounter to assess several players as he continues preparations for the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for November. Nigeria previously faced Russia in an international friendly in June 2025, with the Super Eagles holding the hosts to a 1-1 draw, with Tolu Arokodare scoring Nigeria’s equaliser. Tuesday’s meeting will be the second between the two countries in 16 years and is scheduled to kick off at 6pm Nigerian time, 5pm GMT and 8pm Moscow time, at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. Peter Akinbo Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!
Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.
