Only 19 Super Eagles players are in camp for Tuesday’s friendly against Russia in Nizhny Novgorod, after the NFF confirmed that Eintracht Frankfurt, LASK and Al Wasl refused to release Raphael Onyedika, Moses Usor and Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola. Captain Wilfred Ndidi and Basel defender Victory Akpe are injured, Bright Osayi-Samuel was barred by Birmingham City, and Slavia Prague midfielder Suleiman Mubarak couldn’t travel because his Czech residence permit hadn’t been secured.
International friendly
Preview
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod · Tuesday 6 October 2026
The NFF’s camp update listed 18 players in Russia on Sunday, made up of three goalkeepers, five defenders, four midfielders and six forwards. FC Rostov’s Ibraheem Ajasa, who received a late invitation, was expected to complete the group in Nizhny Novgorod, and reports from camp on Monday put the number at 19 with him included.
Seven absentees leave Chelle with four recognised midfielders
The losses bite hardest in midfield, where only Chibuzo Nwoko, Stephen Michael, Igor Wilfred and Ikorodu City’s Aderemi Adeoye remain of the eight midfielders Eric Chelle named on September 17, because Ndidi, Onyedika, Popoola and Mubarak are all missing. Onyedika’s absence is the biggest blow, since he was the most experienced holding option left once Ndidi picked up the knock he carried out of the 3-0 defeat in Bissau.
Usor was a late addition to the squad, and LASK didn’t approve his release because the request reached the Austrian club too close to the game. The back line is also thinner after Osayi-Samuel’s withdrawal and Akpe’s injury, leaving Kenneth Igboke, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez and Abdullahi Bewene as the five defenders.
Goalkeepers 3
- Michael AtataIkorodu City
- Samuel JamesSJK (Finland)
- Stanley NwabaliChippa United (South Africa)
Defenders 5
- Kenneth IgbokeEnugu Rangers
- Isaac JamesAlverca (Portugal)
- Benjamin FredricksBrentford (England)
- Emmanuel FernandezRangers (Scotland)
- Abdullahi BeweneBanik Ostrava (Czechia)
Midfielders 4
- Chibuzo NwokoFulham (England)
- Stephen MichaelVendsyssel (Denmark)
- Igor WilfredKristiansund (Norway)
- Aderemi AdeoyeIkorodu City
Forwards 6
- Kelechi IheanachoBursaspor (Turkey)
- Moses SimonParis FC (France)
- Akor AdamsVenezia (Italy)
- Peter EdokpolorBenfica (Portugal)
- Abubakar UmarFamalicão (Portugal)
- Abdullahi UmarHradec Králové (Czechia)
Others 1
- Ibraheem AjasaFC Rostov (Russia)Late invitee, expected to join camp
19 players named
Players listed by the NFF as in Russia on 4 October 2026, plus late invitee Ibraheem Ajasa. Ndidi, Akpe, Osayi-Samuel, Onyedika, Popoola, Mubarak and Usor are not available.
The NFF’s update didn’t include Vince Osuji or John Otomewo, the two players reported as replacements for Akpe and Ndidi when the Super Eagles squad for Russia was first revised, so neither is listed above. If either joins before kick-off, it would take the group to 20 or 21.
Super Eagles players in camp include an NPFL trio with a rare chance
The shortage hands real minutes to the home-based trio. Igboke is now one of only five defenders, and with four midfielders available, Adeoye is very likely to be involved at some stage. Atata is competing with Nwabali and Samuel James for the gloves, and a friendly against a side that has just beaten Namibia 6-0 is the kind of test that tells a coach far more than training does.
Moses Simon is expected to wear the armband in Ndidi’s absence, with Iheanacho and Akor Adams the most experienced attackers in the group. Nigeria drew 1-1 with Russia in Moscow 16 months ago, and a strong showing from this stretched squad would give Chelle some badly needed positives before the two Tanzania games that will decide whether the AFCON 2027 campaign can still be rescued.
