AFCON 2025
Nikolai Naumov, the former Lokomotiv Moscow Football Club president, has expressed his displeasure at the absence of key Super Eagles stars ahead of the friendly match between Nigeria and Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday.
Naumov says it is unprofessional and disappointing on the part of the Nigeria Football Federation for not ensuring that some of the first-team players take part in the friendly match.
He revealed that, considering that the host country spends a lot of money to cover flights and accommodation of their guest, the NFF should have presented a strong squad for the fixture.
“The non-arrival of key players of the Nigerian national team for the match with Russia is very bad,” Naumov told Championat.
“When we agree with any national team in the current conditions, we incur significant expenses for flights, accommodation, etc. Such expenses… We must clearly indicate what lineup the opponent should have.”
He further opined that, barring injuries, only a strong squad should be put forward for such a high-profile friendly.
“Only the strongest players are needed, except for force majeure: injuries or other emergencies.
“When the Nigerian national team agrees to such a match, the management must discuss this issue with their players in advance.”
The ex-Lokomotiv Moscow president went on to make a jibe at Eric Chelle’s 20-man squad for the friendly match.
“And now they will bring beach footballers. Do we need this? The Nigerian team will only have a name. As a result, we will not get the opponent we want.”
However, he believes that the team still has a couple of players with European experience and as such, Russia won’t just “brush” the Super Eagles aside but he expects Russia to win.
“It is unlikely that the Russian team will have a crushing victory over Nigeria, because even in this squad, there are many footballers who play in Europe. The opponent is strong, but our guys must win,” he concluded.
Nigeria will be without a handful of its regular players, including Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, reigning African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Stanley Nwakali, for various reasons.
Eric Chelle will depend on his Unity Cup triumph squad, a couple of first-team regulars, and some newly-invited players for the match. Kick-off is 6 p.m. on Friday, June 6.
