By John Ofem, JKNewsMedia Sports Reporter
NINETEEN SUPER Eagles players are now available for selection for Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia in Nizhny Novgorod after seven players withdrew from the squad.
JKNewsMedia.com sports reporter notes that the withdrawals initially left head coach Éric Chelle with 18 players in camp, but late invitee Ibrahim Ajasa of Russian club FC Rostov subsequently joined the team, taking the number to 19.
Earlier, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said injuries and the refusal of some clubs to release their players had weakened the squad ahead of the encounter.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi and Victory Akpe were ruled out through injuries, while Raphael Onyedika, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola were prevented from travelling to Russia by their respective clubs.
Moses Usor, who was called up after scoring on his Nigeria debut against Madagascar, was also prevented from travelling by Austrian club LASK.
Suleiman Mubarak could not join the squad after failing to secure the residence permit required for his trip to Russia.
However, the 19 players currently available are goalkeepers Michael Atata of Ikorodu City, Samuel James of SJK FC in Finland and Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United in South Africa.
The defenders are Kenneth Igboke of Enugu Rangers, Isaac James of Alverca FC in Portugal, Benjamin Fredricks of Brentford FC in England, Emmanuel Fernandez of Glasgow Rangers in Scotland and Abdullahi Bewene of FC Banik Ostrava in Czechia.
The midfielders are Chibuzo Nwoke of Fulham FC in England, Stephen Michael of Vendsyssel FF in Denmark, Igor Wilfred of Kristiansund FC in Norway and Aderemi Adeoye of Ikorodu City.
Then, the forwards are Kelechi Iheanacho of Bursaspor FC in Turkey, Moses Simon of Paris FC in France, Akor Adams of Venezia FC in Italy, Peter Edokpolor of SL Benfica in Portugal, Abubakar Umar of FC Famalicao in Portugal, Abdullahi Umar of Hradec Kralove in Czechia and Ajasa of FC Rostov in Russia.
JKNewsMedia.com sports reporter also writes that the Super Eagles held their final training session at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Monday evening ahead of the friendly.
Nigeria will face Russia on Tuesday as the Super Eagles seek a better result after their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier last week.
The two sides last met in June 2025, when they played out a 1-1 draw at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
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