The Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived in Russia and begun preparations for their international friendly against the Russian national team in Nizhny Novgorod.
Nigeria will face Russia on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium as part of the October international window.
The encounter will provide head coach Eric Chelle with another opportunity to assess his squad following Nigeria’s opening two matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Nigerian delegation travelled from Abuja on Thursday and arrived at Nizhny Novgorod International Airport on Friday before settling into preparations for the friendly.
Reports indicate that several players invited from the Nigeria Premier Football League were among those who travelled with the delegation, while some foreign-based players were expected to join the team directly from their respective clubs.
The Super Eagles subsequently began their preparations in Nizhny Novgorod, with training sessions forming a key part of Chelle’s plans ahead of Tuesday’s encounter.
The training provides the coaching crew an opportunity to work on tactics, assess the condition of the players and introduce some of the newer faces into the national-team setup.
The Russia friendly comes at an important stage for Chelle as he continues to assess his options within the Super Eagles.
Nigeria’s squad has undergone some changes ahead of the match, with Wilfred Ndidi and Victory Akpe withdrawing from the original selection. Vince Osuji and John Otomewo were subsequently brought in as replacements.
Players such as Stanley Nwabali, Benjamin Fredrick, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Raphael Onyedika and Akor Adams are among those included in the squad.
Kelechi Iheanacho is also part of the group travelling for the friendly, while the selection provides an opportunity for some less-established players to stake their claim for future international assignments.
The match could therefore be used to test different combinations and give some players valuable minutes against a European opponent.
