By Victor Kanayo
Some players of Nigeria’s Super Eagles have pulled out of the scheduled international friendly match against Russia’s senior men’s national team in Moscow.
The players include top stars invited for the high-profile test game.
List of Withdrawn Players
Heritage Times HT reports that the withdrawn players include Cyriel Dessers – excused from the squad due to a family engagement; Ola Aina – opted out of the match citing personal issues; Wilfred Ndidi – injured and currently recovering; Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Iheanacho – both requested to be left out due to family-related matters.
Others are Nathan Tella – currently renewing his UK passport, hence unavailable for travel; Sadiq Umar – ruled out due to injury.
The match is fixed for Friday, 6 June 2025.
Statement Confirmation
A statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) further stated:
“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.
“This situation has left Chelle with only Victor Boniface, Simon Moses and Tolu Arokodare in the attack, and he has had to retain Sikiru Alimi from the Unity Cup tournament and also 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.
