Eagles jet out of London for Russia friendly

By Olaolu Joseph

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, has shifted his focus to the upcoming friendly match against Russia, following his team’s triumph in the Unity Cup tournament.

The Eagles, who successfully defended their Unity Cup title after defeating Jamaica via a penalty shootout on Saturday night, departed London on Sunday evening for the tie against the Russians, scheduled for this Friday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Chelle, speaking in London, reiterated his commitment to maintaining a winning mentality as the team prepares for their next challenge.

“Now we head to Russia, and our goal is clear — to win,” Chelle said. “We’re not just making the trip for the sake of it; we’re going there to secure a result.”

Reflecting on the intense final against Jamaica, he admitted the team was still recovering mentally from the demanding fixture. “Mentally, it still feels like we’re in Jamaica — that game took a lot out of us. But now, we must shift our focus.”

He emphasized the importance of mental toughness, especially when playing on foreign soil.

“Playing away is never easy. That’s why we’re emphasizing the mental aspect. That was my message to the players: we need to show the football world our mindset and our hunger.”

On the team’s mission to Russia, the former Malian national team handler said, “We are going with the same ambition — to go to Russia, get the win, and return to Abuja with pride.”