The Super Eagles will have 19 players available for Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia after seven players withdrew from the squad due to injuries, club restrictions and documentation issues.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that captain Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola, Victory Akpe, Moses Usor and Suleiman Mubarak will miss the encounter.
Ndidi and Akpe were ruled out through injuries, while Onyedika, Osayi-Samuel and Popoola were prevented from travelling by their respective clubs.
Usor, who scored on his Super Eagles debut against Madagascar, was also denied permission to travel by Austrian club LASK. Mubarak could not join the team after failing to secure the required residence permit.
The withdrawals initially reduced Éric Chelle’s squad to 18 players, but FC Rostov midfielder Ibrahim Ajasa was later invited, taking the number in camp to 19.
The Super Eagles completed their final training session at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Monday evening ahead of the friendly.
Full List of Available Players
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, Ibrahim Ajasa.
Nigeria will be seeking a response after their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Super Eagles and Russia last met in June 2025, playing out a 1-1 draw at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
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