The Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) has officially confirmed that the Super Eagles will face Russia in an international friendly match on June 6, 2025, at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. This encounter is part of the team’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign.
The match will present an opportunity for the Super Eagles to test their skills against a top team like Russia.
The new 21-man squad selected by Head coach Eric Chelle features a mix of experienced players and young talents. This strategic move will allow Coach Chelle to test new combinations, assess player fitness, and build team chemistry ahead of critical competitive fixtures. The squad includes players from various leagues, showcasing the depth of Nigerian football talent.
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The squad features a good balance of defensive and attacking players. The goalkeeping position will be manned by Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania) and Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy). The defense will be led by experienced players like Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece), Semi Ajayi (West Brom, England), and William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia). These players will provide the necessary defensive solidity to the team.
The midfield will be dominated by players like Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), and Frank Onyeka (Augsburg, Germany). These players will provide the necessary creativity and defensive solidity to the team. They will be expected to control the tempo of the game and create scoring opportunities for the attack.
The attack will be led by Moses Simon (Nantes, France), Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), and Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany). These players have shown their scoring prowess in their respective leagues and will be expected to make a significant impact against Russia. They will be looking to capitalize on any defensive lapses by the Russian team and score crucial goals.
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This friendly match presents an opportunity for the Super Eagles to gel as a team and fine-tune their skills ahead of the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers. As former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins noted, individual brilliance alone may not be enough to guarantee success; the team needs to work together and build strong chemistry to achieve their goals.
The Super Eagles will face stiff competition in the 2025 AFCON, where they are expected to take on teams like Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania. This friendly match against Russia will serve as a crucial warm-up, allowing the team to test their strategies and player combinations before the tournament. The outcome of this match will likely provide valuable insights into the team’s strengths and weaknesses.
The Super Eagles will look to make a strong impression against Russia, showcasing their skills and teamwork. The match will be a valuable learning experience for the players and the coaching staff, and it will be interesting to see how Coach Chelle’s new squad performs against a top team like Russia.
