Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has made a handful of changes to the Super Eagles squad ahead of their upcoming international friendly against Russia on Friday, 6 June 2025, at Moscow’s iconic Luzhniki Stadium.
The reshuffle follows Nigeria’s recent success at the Unity Cup in England, where they claimed the title after a 2-1 win over Ghana and a dramatic penalty shootout triumph against Jamaica, having drawn 2-2 in regulation time.
With that tournament now behind them, Chelle has introduced three new players into the squad for the next challenge: Saviour Isaac, Ismaila Sodiq, and Sikiru Alimi.
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While Isaac is a fresh inclusion, both Sodiq and Alimi featured in the Unity Cup. Sodiq, in particular, impressed with a full 90-minute showing in both matches.
The friendly against Russia is part of Nigeria’s broader preparations for forthcoming competitive fixtures, as Chelle continues to mould the team in his image.
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Meanwhile, Russia’s head coach Valery Karpin has expressed respect for the Super Eagles, despite the absence of two of their most prominent forwards — Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman — who were left out of the June friendlies.
“I would have liked to see Osimhen and Lookman play to test our team against the best, But their absence certainly does not make Nigeria fundamentally weaker.”Karpin said in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda.
The match promises to be a stern test for both sides as they continue their respective preparations on the international stage.
