A number of withdrawals and injuries to some players have combined to alter the list of players who will appear for Nigeria in Friday’s international friendly match in Moscow, from the original list drawn up by Super Eagles’ Head Coach Eric Chelle.
The goalkeeping sector is unaffected as first choice Stanley Nwabali was not listed for the trip in the first place, as a result of the upcoming burial rites for his late parents. Italy-based Maduka Okoye and Tanzania-based Amas Obasogie will still fight for the goal-tender’s starting shirt.
In the rearguard, captain William Ekong is in Moscow alongside Bright Osayi-Samuel, joining the Unity Cup trio of Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi and Igoh Ogbu.
However, Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina excused himself from the friendly, and Coach Chelle has had to draft in the Unity Cup duo of Sodiq Ismaila and Benjamin Fredericks. Former junior international Fredericks impressed on his debut against Jamaica on Saturday.
In the midfield, injury to Wilfred Ndidi has handed Enugu Rangers’ ace Saviour Isaac the opportunity to shine. Isaac is a key member of the Eagles B, which will participate in the African Nations Championship finals in August. He will join Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Christantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha to fight for shirts in the middle of the pack.
At the fore, Unity Cup ace Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho, have excused themselves to attend to family matters, while Spain-based Sadiq Umar has suffered an injury. Nathan Tella’s United Kingdom passport is undergoing a renewal process, so he is unable to travel.
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This situation has left Chelle with only Victor Boniface, Simon Moses and Tolu Arokodare in the attack, and he has had to call up Russia-based former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays for Krasnodar FC.
The team, which arrived in Moscow on Monday, will begin training sessions on Tuesday.
The match will take place at the 78,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium, which is the largest football stadium in Russia and the ninth-largest in the whole of Europe.
The Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Benjamin Fredericks (Brentford FC, England)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes); Saviour Isaac (Enugu Rangers)
Forwards: Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium);
Olakunle Olusegun (Krasnodar FC, Russia)
10 Comments
The front line is not that bad. Another opportunity for Boniface to prove himself .
This should be the last chance for boniface to proof himself at national level. If fails lets move on with Dessers. That young has been unjustly left out of SE competitive games and it SE who loses. Cos in my opinion from what i hv seen he is most technical attacker available for SE. He can also play comfortably as a sport striker and do well.
The reason Boniface keep getting called up despite underperforming is because he plays regularly for Bayer Leverkusen a top two German bundesliga team.
And as long as he plays in a top team he will continue to get invited unfortunately.
Had Dessers played for a top or even a mid-table teams in the top 5 European league this while and had good seasons,i’m sure he would have won more caps than he currently has.
Victor boniface just need a goal to get is confidence back, boniface is the guy after Victor Osimhen.
The fact cyriel Dessers did well in the just concluded unity cup does not mean that is better than Victor boniface,
Dessers is too soft and light-weight, I think he will likely do well in a world cup setting or when we play against an European team in a friendly match, but when the Super Eagles play against an African team in afcon or world cup qualifying games I see him struggling with the physical aspect of African game,
So The Ghana that dessers performed really well was a European team? Even Jamaica for me I see them as an African country because their population is largely made up by people with African ancestry evident in their style of play (physical) and still dessers performed well and even gave a beautiful assist…..
Your Boniface that is thick and heavy weight lmao has failed to impress with the dozens of chances against African teams….
Abeg who is good is good abeg…with one, two or highest 3 games you should know. It should come naturally no be force….we for done see some signs…but that’s not the case with your thick skin Boniface
Have we not given that Boniface enough chance? Omo the frontline will be so stiff…so dull.. Him on that list as a whole is so cringing…
Kai I will miss dessers o. Why not invite him? Why leave him out in the absence of so many players….
Make I no talk first na until I no see my dessers for afcon and world cup….
And e be like Boniface dey give nff brown envelope cos that guy is so dry as a striker but dey keep inviting him….
Even for him club beyern Leverkusen wey people dey say him dey perform for club not country….I no see anything there….
he is best suited as a content creator than a footballer
Let’s watch out for Olakunle Olusegun. That guy is the next big thing to happen to Nigeria football. I just hope he will be given a chance to express him self. Effortlessly he will dribble the whole Russian team.
Olusegun is fast,he’s got a nimble feet,an all action striker but not a skilled or prolific goal scorer.
Olakunle – from the class of 2019 Golden Eaglets, for whom he scored some cute goals.
He has some nifty leg movements which add priceless efficiency to some of his 1 v 1 take-ons. He drives into enemy territory without a care in the world with his pace, directness and give-and-goes with his partners in crime up front.
His tasks would be to do enough to suggest that he can dislodge at best, or hobnob at worse, (with) the likes of Moses Simon, rave-of-the-moment Samuel Chukwueze, whimsical Kelechi Iheanacho, and Ademola Lookman: all heavy hitters down the Super Eagles flanks.
I personally think this promising winger can give Nathan Tella a run for his Super Eagles slot but, as we know, the Super Eagles is spoilt for choice in the attacking department – although it doesn’t always seem so.
Good luck to Olakunle Olusegun.
Just Like Benjamin Fredricks (who took his chances gloves and boots after providence shone on him), if the chance comes Olukunle’s way, I believe he can do enough to suggest being part of the Super Eagles conversation as a viable option long after the game against Russia.
The invitation of Olakunle is a clear message to Naija players worldwide.
Chelle is watching, with his eagle eyes.
If you are good, Chelle will see you, and he will call you.
Excited for the invitation of this lad. His pace, close control and dribbling skills make him the original nightmare for defenders. Our Russian comrades are in for a big surprise!