Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle on Monday announced a reshuffled squad for the friendly match against Russia, Afrosport reports.
Fresh off their triumph in the Unity Cup 2025 in London, the Super Eagles will take on Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday, 6 June.
Chelle initially invited 26 players for the Unity Cup and 21 for the friendly against Russia, but the Malian has been forced to name a revised squad as several players have pulled out due to personal issues, injuries and visa problems.
Brentford U-21 star Benjamin Fredrick and Remo Stars fullback Sodiq Ismaila have been named to the Eagles squad to face Russia after impressing in the Unity Cup. Fredrick impressed on his debut against Jamaica on Saturday, while Ismaila replaces Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina, who has reportedly excused himself from the match.
Meanwhile, captain William Troost-Ekong and Bright Osayi-Samuel, who both missed the Unity Cup, are the other defensive options along with the trio of Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi and Igoh Ogbu.
The Eagles will also be without Wilfred Ndidi due to injury after the Leicester City midfielder played their two games in London. Saviour Isaac replaces Ndidi, and the Enugu Rangers star will join Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Christantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha in the midfield.
The forward line poses another headache for Chelle, who has invited Russia-based attacker Olakunle Olusegun to the squad after the duo of Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Iheanacho withdrew due to family matters. Sadiq Umar is also out with an injury, while Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella is waiting for his passport renewal and is unable to travel.
Chelle, however, can call on Victor Boniface, Simon Moses and Tolu Arokodare in the attack, as well as Olusegun, who plays for Krasnodar.
In the goalkeeping department, Stanley Nwabali, who was not named in the initial squad, will miss the game against Russia due to his parents’ burial, while Udinese’s Maduka Okoye and Tanzania-based Amas Obasogie will battle for a starting berth.
Revised List for Friendly vs Russia #SoarSuperEagles 🦅🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/KWtA7kpmjl
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) June 2, 2025
18 Super Eagles players arrived in Moscow on Monday, with the team to undergo their first training session on Tuesday.
Full Super Eagles squad for Friday late
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Benjamin Fredericks (Brentford FC, England)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes); Saviour Isaac (Enugu Rangers)
Forwards: Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Olakunle Olusegun (Krasnodar FC, Russia)
