A number of withdrawals and injuries to some players have combined to
alter the list of players who will appear for Nigeria in Friday’s
international friendly match in Moscow, from the original list drawn up
by Super Eagles’ Head Coach Eric Chelle.
The goalkeeping sector is unaffected as first choice Stanley Nwabali was
not listed for the trip in the first place, as a result of the upcoming
burial rites for his late parents. Italy-based Maduka Okoye and
Tanzania-based Amas Obasogie will still fight for the goal-tender’s
starting shirt.
In the rearguard, captain William Ekong is in Moscow alongside Bright
Osayi-Samuel, joining the Unity Cup trio of Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi
and Igoh Ogbu. However, Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina excused himself
from the friendly, and Coach Chelle has had to draft in the Unity Cup
duo of Sodiq Ismaila and Benjamin Fredericks. Former junior
international Fredericks impressed on his debut against Jamaica on
Saturday.
In the midfield, injury to Wilfred Ndidi has handed Enugu Rangers’ ace
Saviour Isaac the opportunity to shine. Isaac is a key member of the
Eagles B, which will participate in the African Nations Championship
finals in August. He will join Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo
Dele-Bashiru, Christantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha to fight for
shirts in the middle of the pack.
At the fore, Unity Cup ace Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho, have
excused themselves to attend to family matters, while Spain-based Sadiq
Umar has suffered an injury. Nathan Tella’s United Kingdom passport is
undergoing a renewal process, so he is unable to travel.
This situation has left Chelle with only Victor Boniface, Simon Moses
and Tolu Arokodare in the attack, and he has had to retain Sikiru Alimi
from the Unity Cup tournament and also call up Russia-based former
junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays for Krasnodar FC.
The team, which arrived in Moscow on Monday, will begin training
sessions on Tuesday.
The match will take place at the 78,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium, which
is the largest football stadium in Russia and the ninth-largest in the
whole of Europe.
SUPER EAGLES FOR RUSSIA FRIENDLY:
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida
Blackstars, Tanzania)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright
Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC,
Greece); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu
(SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Benjamin
Fredericks (Brentford FC, England)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Raphael Onyedika (Club
Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Chrisantus Uche
(Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes); Saviour
Isaac (Enugu Rangers)
Forwards: Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC
Nantes, France); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Olakunle Olusegun
(Krasnodar FC, Russia); Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars)
