Super Eagles crisis deepens as Ndidi,six others miss Russia friendly

Super Eagles Crisis Deepens as Ndidi, Six Others Miss Russia Friendly

By Sports Desk

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been hit by a major squad crisis ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia, with seven players ruled out through injuries, club restrictions and travel-documentation problems.

The latest setback has left head coach Éric Chelle with only 18 players available for the encounter at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Russia, creating an unexpected headache for the coach just days after Nigeria suffered a heavy 3–0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

At the centre of the withdrawals is Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi, who will miss the friendly after sustaining a knock during Nigeria’s recent AFCON qualifier against Guinea-Bissau.

The absence of Ndidi is particularly significant for Chelle, considering the midfielder’s experience and leadership in the heart of Nigeria’s midfield.

But Ndidi is not the only notable absentee.

Seven Players Ruled Out

The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that Raphael Onyedika, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola, Victory Akpe, Moses Usor and Suleiman Mubarak will also miss the Russia encounter.

Onyedika was prevented from travelling by his German club Eintracht Frankfurt, while Birmingham City similarly stopped Osayi-Samuel from joining the squad.

Popoola was also held back by his UAE club, Al-Wasl.

For Victory Akpe, injury was the reason for his withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Moses Usor’s absence will be particularly frustrating for Nigerian supporters. The forward scored on his Super Eagles debut against Madagascar on September 25, but his Austrian club, LASK, reportedly refused to release him after Chelle made a late request for his inclusion.

Suleiman Mubarak, who could have made his senior international debut, was unable to travel because his residence permit had not been secured.

Chelle Faces Difficult Selection

With seven players unavailable, Chelle now faces the difficult task of assembling a competitive side from a significantly reduced squad.

The timing could hardly be worse for Nigeria. The Super Eagles are looking to rebuild confidence following their disappointing defeat to Guinea-Bissau, and Tuesday’s friendly was expected to provide Chelle with an opportunity to test players and tactical combinations.

Instead, the coach must now work with limited options.

Nigeria will face Russia on Tuesday, October 6, in their second meeting in 16 months. Their previous encounter in Moscow in June 2025 ended in a 1–1 draw.

For the Super Eagles, the friendly has suddenly become more than just another international fixture.

With key players missing and confidence needing to be restored, Chelle will be hoping the available squad can rise to the occasion and produce a performance capable of calming anxious Nigerian supporters.

The question now is simple: can the depleted Super Eagles shock Russia despite losing seven players before kick-off?