Injuries and club restrictions leave Nigeria with 18 players for Russia friendly
Nigeria will have only 18 players available for Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia after injuries, club decisions and documentation problems ruled out several members of the original squad. Captain Wilfred Ndidi is among the absentees, while the NFF expects late invitee Ibraheem Ajasa to join the camp.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Russia with a depleted squad after injuries, club restrictions and travel documentation problems reduced the number of available players to 18, according to the Nigeria Football Federation. Captain Wilfred Ndidi is among those ruled out of Tuesday’s international friendly after sustaining a minor injury in Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau last week. Midfielder Raphael Onyedika could not travel after his German club, Eintracht Frankfurt, reportedly stopped him from joining the squad.
Clubs also prevented defender Bright Osayi-Samuel and UAE-based midfielder Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola from making the trip. Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe was unavailable because of injury. Moses Usor, who scored on his Super Eagles debut against Madagascar in Uyo on 25 September, was also unable to join the team after Austrian club LASK reportedly declined a late release request from head coach Éric Chelle.
Suleiman Mubarak, invited from Czech club Slavia Prague, could not travel because he had not secured his residence permit. The NFF said late invitee Ibraheem Ajasa, who plays for Russian club FC Rostov, was expected to join the team’s camp in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday evening. The available squad consists of three goalkeepers, five defenders, four midfielders and six forwards.
The group includes goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Kenneth Igboke and Benjamin Fredricks, midfielders Chibuzo Nwoke and Stephen Michael, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon and Akor Adams. The fixture will be Nigeria’s second meeting with Russia in 16 months. The teams drew 1-1 at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium in June 2025.
Tolu Arokodare scored Nigeria’s equaliser after Semi Ajayi’s own goal had put the hosts ahead.
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