Super Eagles news: 7 Nigerian players to miss Russia friendly

Seven Super Eagles’ internationals will miss the friendly against Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium tomorrow, with injuries, club refusals and residence permit issues all forcing the late withdrawals, Soccernet.ng reports.

Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Moses Usor, Akpe Victory, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola and Suleiman Mubarak have all been ruled out of Tuesday’s fixture.

The withdrawals come less than 48 hours before kick-off and leave Eric Chelle with a reshaped squad as Nigeria look to recover from last Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau.

The NFF confirmed the reasons behind each withdrawal in an official statement from its Media Department earlier today.

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Super Eagles: Injuries rule out Ndidi, Akpe Victory

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of the Russia friendly after picking up a knock during last week’s AFCON 2027 qualifier defeat to Guinea-Bissau.

The Besiktas midfielder was expected to lead Nigeria out at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, but the NFF confirmed that the injury was enough to keep him out of the trip.

Basel defender Akpe Victory has also been withdrawn from the squad after picking up an injury, and Vince Osuji was called up as his replacement, while Reims midfielder John Otomewo came in for Ndidi.

Clubs block Onyedika, Osayi-Samuel, Popoola and Usor

The second wave of withdrawals comes from club-level refusals, with four Super Eagles call-ups blocked from flying to Russia by their parent clubs.

Raphael Onyedika was stopped from travelling to Russia by Eintracht Frankfurt, with the German side refusing to release the midfielder for the friendly.

Birmingham City have also kept Bright Osayi-Samuel at St Andrew’s, while Al-Wasl blocked UAE-based midfielder Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola from embarking on the trip to Russia.

Nigeria’s hero in the 2-1 win over Madagascar in Uyo, Moses Usor, was handed a late call-up, but LASK refused to release the forward, prioritising his return to the Linz-based club ahead of their upcoming domestic fixtures.

Residence permit issue keeps Mubarak out

Slavia Prague attacking midfielder Suleiman Mubarak, who was in line to make his Super Eagles debut against Russia, has been ruled out of the friendly due to residence permit issues.

The Czech-based forward was unable to secure the paperwork required to travel to Russia, closing the door on what would have been his first senior Nigeria cap.

The seven withdrawals leave Chelle with a reshaped squad (18 players) for a fixture the Super Eagles head coach had earmarked as a chance to rebuild confidence after the Guinea-Bissau defeat.

Ndidi’s absence takes away the captain and midfield anchor, while Onyedika’s withdrawal removes the backup defensive-midfield option that would have stepped in.

Nigeria last met Russia in June 2025, with the two sides playing out a 1-1 draw at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.