By Teddy Nwanunobi
No fewer than three players have withdrawn from the high-profile friendly between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Sbornaya of Russia.
Daily NewsCraft reports that defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has joined the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Akpe Victory, who have also withdrawn from the fixture tomorrow (Tuesday, October 6).
Their withdrawal from the encounter, which will take place in Nizhny Novgorod, is further compounding the squad concerns facing the head coach, Éric Chelle.
No official reason has been disclosed for Osayi-Samuel’s decision to leave the squad.
His withdrawal leaves Chelle with fewer options as Nigeria prepare for the high-profile meeting with the Russian national team.
The friendly is expected to provide both teams with an opportunity to assess their players and continue preparations for their respective upcoming international engagements.
Meanwhile, former Lokomotiv Moscow President, Nikolai Naumov, has warned Russia not to expect another comfortable victory when they face Nigeria tomorrow.
Russia cruised to a 6-0 victory over Namibia in their penultimate friendly of the September/October FIFA international window, with Lechi Sadulaev, Danil Prutsev, Konstantin Tyukavin, Maksim Glushenkov, and Maksim Petrov all getting on the scoresheet.
Russia and Nigeria last faced each other in Moscow in June 2025, with the Super Eagles holding their hosts to a 1-1 draw, after Tolu Arokodare’s second half strike cancelled out Semi Ajayi’s own goal.
For the friendly against Russia, Nigeria will be without nine key players in Eric Chelle’s preferred starting lineup, including Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey Bruno Onyemaechi, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
Despite the absence of the aforementioned players, Naumov believes the Super Eagles will pose a much tougher challenge than Namibia, and ruled out the possibility of another rout.
”I don’t think there will be a rout. It’s going to be a tougher game. This isn’t Namibia. They have a higher rating. They’re a stronger team.
”Although we should win on a high after such a rout. We’re moving to Nizhny Novgorod, a very football-oriented city.
”It will be an interesting encounter. I think we’ll score two or three goals,” Naumov said to euro-football.ru.
The Super Eagles held their first training on Russian soil on Saturday afternoon, three days before their meeting with Russia in Nizhny Novgorod.