The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officially confirmed that the Super Eagles will face Russia in an international friendly match.
Despite fears of playing against the FIFA-banned Russia, the Nigerian football body has accepted the clash slated to hold at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday, June 6.
The encounter will be part of the team’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign.
In Moscow, the upcoming clash will showcase a newly formed 21-man squad, separate from the 26-man roster recently invited to the Unity Cup in London. Head coach Eric Chelle has made a strategic decision to field a new lineup.
This international friendly will afford Coach Chelle the chance to experiment with new combinations, evaluate player fitness, and foster team chemistry prior to crucial competitive matches.
Notable names in the squad include team captain William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, and Bright Osayi-Samuel in defence.
The midfield is anchored by Wilfred Ndidi and Raphael Onyedika, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Chrisantus Uche also earning a call-up.
Upfront, Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze, and Valencia’s Sadiq Umar lead the line, supported by other attackers including Kelechi Iheanacho, Nathan Tella, and Simon Moses.
Full Squad For Russia Clash:
Goalkeepers:
Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania)
Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)
Defenders:
Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece)
Semi Ajayi (West Brom, England)
Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia)
Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey)
Midfielders:
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy)
Chrisantus Uche (Getafe, Spain)
Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
Frank Onyeka (Augsburg, Germany)
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
Forwards:
Moses Simon (Nantes, France)
Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Tolu Arokodare (Genk, Belgium)
Sadiq Umar (Valencia, Spain)
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough, England)
