Super Eagles to battle Russia in international friendly
Fresh from winning the four-nation Unity Cup tournament in London,
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will seek to maintain their unbeaten run in all
competitions since the beginning of this year when they take on the Sbornaya (The Boys) of Russia at the 78,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday night.
It is the first official meeting between both countries at senior level, and though Russia have not played competitively since February 2022, they have been busy with friendly games, the last being a 5-0 routing of Zambia’s Chipolopolo at the VTB Arena in Moscow on March 25. The win extended their winning streak to eight games.
On Friday, Franco-Malian Eric Chelle will put out a squad determined to earn a critical win for Nigeria — to sustain the winning mentality built from the Unity Cup and to keep confidence high ahead of two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches coming up in September.
Injuries and withdrawals have forced Chelle to tweak his squad for this encounter, but the spine of the team remains largely intact, missing only a few key performers such as reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, the prolific Victor Osimhen, and AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze — who was in imperious form in London.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has another opportunity to start between the sticks, with Igoh Ogbu and Benjamin Fredericks (from the Unity Cup in London) competing for defensive roles alongside captain William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Semi Ajayi.
A rich midfield cast includes Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika, Christantus Uche, Papa Daniel, and Saviour Isaac, while much will be expected from Simon Moses and Tolu Arokodare in attack, as Krasnodar FC’s former junior international Olakunle Olusegun hopes fervently for his first senior cap.
Friday’s encounter will kick off at 8 p.m. Russia time (6 p.m. Nigeria time).
