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Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has announced a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s international friendly against Russia.
The West Africans are set to face Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, 6 October.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi headlines the squad, with Moses Simon, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Benjamin Fredricks.
Midfielder Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Akor Adams also included.
Finland-based goalkeeper Samuel James and Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe have received their first call-ups to the senior national team.
Read Also:AFCON 2027Q: Chelle Unveils Squad For Double-Header Against Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau
Chelle has also invited six midfielders and three forwards who are set to join the Super Eagles camp for the first time as Nigeria prepares for the friendly encounter.
Full List
Goalkeepers: Michael Atata (Ikorodu City); Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers); Isaac James (Alverca FC, Portugal); Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford FC, England); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham FC, England); Abdullahi Bewene (FC Banik Ostrava, Czechia)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany); Chibuzo Nwoko (Fulham FC, England); Stephen Michael (Vendsyssel FF, Denmark); Igor Wilfred (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Ridwan Abdulrasaq (Al Wasl, UAE); Suleiman Mubarak (Slavia Prague, Czechia); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City);
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Akor Adams (Venezia FC, Italy); Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Abubakar Umar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia)
7 Comments
With due respect, this is a risky selection.
The foreign based guys are ok, but the home based players???
You want to play Russia with a squad of mostly home based players? We are asking for trouble. Russia did not ask for this friendly for no reason. We embarrassed them the last time by holding them to a draw and outplaying them. They want to prove a point this time around.
Home based for lesser teams is fine, but not for Russia. Hope we don’t get rushed wotowoto on match day!
Chelle is playing with his job, which is unfortunate. If we lose by a large margin, some folks will have a reason to call for his dismissal.
I have to go re-checked the list bcos I was expecting to see like 10 home base but I saw only 3. That’s not bad now habba and we both know they might not even play.
This Russia friendly is mainly to test the players he intend to invite for the Olympic qualifiers matches.
Sorry, replace HOME BASED with UNTESTED NEWBIES.
These should be tried against weaker teams to start with. Playing a team like Russia on their home turf is a baptism of fire and sulfur.
**ALHASSAN YUSUF SHOULD BE INVITED*”
GOAL-DECIEVER IHEANACHO, BENCH-WARMER NDIDI, AND AGING MOSES SIMON DOES NOT DESERVE FURTHER CALL-UP IN NATIONAL TEAM. AGAIN.
QUALITY OF PLAY, AGE IS NOT AT THEIR SIDE.
** ERIC CHELLE SHOULD NOT BE DECIEVED **
NIGERIA DOES NOT NEED THE CAPTAINSHIP/LEADERSHIP, EXPERIENCE PLAYERS THAT CANNOT DO THE TALKING ON PITCH.
AFTER ALL WHAT IS THE GAIN OF PORTUGAL STARTING RONALDO ON THE FIELD OF PLAY WHEN HE IS ALREADY AGING (not doing the talking on the pitch).
** AT LAST, the whole team end up in disaster**
COACH ERIC CHELLE WATCH OUT.
Ndidi is the best defensive midfielder we have in Nigeria today,until someone proves they are better,he will continue to play in that role unfortunately!
Go back to games at the last AFCON he was colossal,he was so good his absence against Morocco due to accumulated card was felt,he was hugely missed!
When a player isn’t playing well it is normal to call for their removal from the team,not when a player is consistently playing so well for their country regardless their age.Performance is what keeps you in the national team.
Apparently,out of every ten games Ndidi has featured for Nigeria,he has averaged 7/10 ratings for that he should remain in the team until performances starts sliding or someone with a better football qualities emerge,until then I am afraid he will continue to captain super eagles!Unless you have a problem with the region where he comes from,if that’s the case tough!Can’t do anything about it…!
You are very wrong if you think Ndidi is the best DM we have. Ndidi should be a center back in my own theory because he doesn’t have final balls to make a decent midfielder. Tochukuwu Nnadi is the real deal and time will prove this. I don’t like seeing Ndidi in the team but we have no choice than to wait until he retires.
Tochukwu Nadi has to prove that,until then Ndidi still remain the best we have.
In the past we have tried different players in that role,none of their performances was close to what Ndidi brings to the super eagles!We have suggested names,when they get their chances eventually, none of them were convincing.That is why the coaches always come back for Ndidi.
The only player who could replace Ndidi though not at his level,is Frank Onyeka..Aside Onyeka who has proven to play that role in big games,none have even come close.We saw how Onyedika underperformed against Morocco..
Nadi is a good player.He could be the player to replace Ndidi,but just like you said,time will tell.
But for now Ndidi is the first choice and rightfully so…Sorry…