AFCON 2025
The Super Eagles of Nigeria face Russia in Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday with a badly weakened squad. Seven players have withdrawn from the camp, which has seen the group drop from 24 to 18.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi dropped out after a small knock in last week’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea-Bissau, and Basel defender Victory Akpe could not fly to Russia because of an injury of his own.
Eintracht Frankfurt stopped midfielder Raphael Onyedika from travelling, while Bright Osayi-Samuel and UAE-based midfielder Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola also had their releases refused.
Head coach Eric Chelle tried to patch the gaps, but his efforts failed. He made a late request for Moses Usor, who scored on his debut in the 2-1 win over Madagascar in Uyo on 25 September, and LASK refused to release the forward.
Slavia Prague forward Suleiman Mubarak, who had hoped to make his Super Eagles debut against Russia, could not travel because his residence permit has not been secured.
Chelle has turned to Rostov youngster Ibraheem Ajasa, who was due to join the camp on Sunday evening. Branik Ostrava’s Abdullahi Bewene could also start at right-back in place of Osayi-Samuel.
The Eagles were already short of firepower before this wave of withdrawals. Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze were all unavailable for the trip, and only 18 players took part in Sunday’s training session.
The squad arrives in Russia under pressure after the 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau on 29 September. Chelle did not travel back from that game with the team, and the delegation that landed in Russia consisted largely of backroom staff and players invited from the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Nigeria and Russia last met 16 months ago, when they drew 1-1 at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. The Super Eagles will look to use the game to find a response to the Guinea-Bissau loss, and they will do it with the thinnest squad Chelle has had to work with.
