Super Eagles land in Moscow with Russia test looming after Guinea-Bissau humiliation

Nigeria have arrived in Moscow ahead of their international friendly against Russia, with the Super Eagles looking to restore some pride after their damaging 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau.

The Nigerian delegation touched down in the Russian capital on Friday afternoon as Eric Chelle’s side began preparations for the final fixture of their international break.

The trip comes at a difficult time for the Super Eagles, who were left reeling by the unexpected defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The result has put Nigeria at the bottom of their qualifying group after two matches and intensified scrutiny of the team’s performance and preparation.

With little time to dwell on the setback, Chelle must now prepare his players for a meeting with Russia that offers an opportunity to respond on the international stage.

Chelle forced into squad changes

The Super Eagles will face Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday in what will be only the second full international meeting between the two countries.

Their previous encounter took place in June 2025 at the Luzhniki Stadium, where both sides played out a 1-1 draw.

However, Chelle will have to work with a slightly altered squad after captain Wilfred Ndidi and Akpe Victory withdrew from the team.

John Otomewo and Vince Osuji have subsequently been brought in as replacements, giving the head coach additional options ahead of the friendly.

The squad also includes three home-based players, with Chibuzor Atata, Aderemi Adeoye and Kenneth Igboke earning places in the group.

Their inclusion provides Chelle with an opportunity to assess players outside the established group as he continues to shape his squad.

Simon among senior figures

Moses Simon is expected to provide leadership within a squad that has undergone changes since the Guinea-Bissau defeat.

The experienced forward will be among the players tasked with helping Nigeria produce a stronger performance against Russia and avoid carrying the disappointment of the qualifier into another international fixture.

Stanley Nwabali is also part of the travelling squad, with the goalkeeper expected to remain an important figure between the posts.

In defence, Emmanuel Fernandez, Benjamin Fredrick and Bright Osayi-Samuel are among the players available to Chelle.

Raphael Onyedika offers another option in midfield, while Akor Adams is included among the attacking options for the Russian test.

Russia friendly offers chance to respond

The friendly comes at a critical point for Chelle as he assesses his options following Nigeria’s poor start to their AFCON qualifying campaign.

The 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau has created pressure for an immediate response, although Tuesday’s fixture will not carry competitive points.

Instead, the encounter gives Chelle another opportunity to examine his players, experiment with combinations and demand a more convincing display from his team.

Nigeria will also be looking to build on the result from their last meeting with Russia, when the two nations shared the spoils in Moscow in 2025.

For the Super Eagles, the priority will be to produce a performance that reflects their quality after the disappointment in the AFCON qualifier.

With the squad now settled in Moscow, attention turns to Tuesday’s encounter and whether Nigeria can provide the response Chelle will want before the international break comes to an end.