Super Eagles train in Russia ahead of friendly

By Tosin Omojola

The Super Eagles will hold their first training session in Russia on Saturday as they intensify preparations for Tuesday’s international friendly against the host nation.

Nigeria arrived at Nizhny Novgorod Airport on Friday afternoon and proceeded to their hotel, where the players were given time to rest and recover from the long journey.

Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to lead the squad in training at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Saturday as preparations for the encounter begin in earnest.

The session will give Chelle an opportunity to assess the players’ physical condition after the trip and begin preparations for a Russian side that will present a different challenge from the opposition Nigeria faced in their last competitive fixture.

Several key players, including captain Wilfred Ndidi, have withdrawn from the friendly, giving Chelle an opportunity to assess other members of the squad ahead of the team’s next competitive fixtures.

The match against Russia is scheduled for Tuesday and forms part of the Super Eagles’ preparations for the remainder of their international calendar.

After the Russia fixture, attention will shift to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with Tanzania next on Nigeria’s schedule. The Super Eagles and Tanzania are expected to meet in a double-header in November, with the matches crucial to Nigeria’s qualification campaign.

For Chelle, the Russia encounter provides an opportunity to assess his squad, fine-tune tactical plans and build momentum ahead of the November qualifiers.