The Super Eagles travel to Russia short-handed. Their June 6 friendly at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium comes without several key players, shaking up coach Eric Chelle’s game plan.
The clash, meant to test tactics ahead of AFCON 2025 and World Cup qualifiers, isn’t under FIFA’s umbrella, but still matters—especially as Russia returns to Luzhniki after years out.
Originally, Chelle named 21 players on May 21. By June, seven dropped out. That trimmed the team to 18. In response, late call-ups came through—most notably FC Krasnodar’s Olakunle Olusegun.
Now for the missing stars. Cyriel Dessers skipped the tie for his wedding—club duty took a back seat to family vows. Ola Aina also sat this one out. Rumors hinted at injury, but reports revealed he pulled out over personal family concerns.
Wilfred Ndidi, usually anchoring the midfield, picked up a knock and didn’t recover in time. His spot goes to Saviour Isaac of Enugu Rangers. Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Iheanacho both flagged family issues, asking to be left out.
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Nathan Tella faced a paperwork problem—his UK passport renewal left him grounded. That’s an off-pitch hitch coaches can’t train around. While injury benched Sadiq Umar the Real Sociedad striker before the squad could board their flight.
Fans didn’t keep quiet. Some worried about the midfield spine without Ndidi. Others understood—life happens, even for pros. Social media buzzed, from sympathy to calls for better squad management.
Still, Chelle used the window to scan his bench. The inclusion of late picks like Olusegun could unlock future starters. Some see the absences as setbacks, others as a chance to build squad depth.
With qualifiers looming, the friendly lets Chelle test systems and fresh faces in a lower-pressure environment. The full squad isn’t on the pitch, but the lessons from this game could shape Nigeria’s campaign ahead.
So, while fans may miss big names, the Super Eagles still have a shot to fly high in Moscow.
