Why Nigeria Will Miss Key Players for Friendly Match Against Russia

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will play against Russia in a friendly match on Friday, 6 June, at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. However, the team will be missing several important players.

Nigerian journalist Tobi Adepoju said the team has had many withdrawals due to injuries, personal reasons, and travel problems.

Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers will not play because of a family event, believed to be his wedding. Defender Ola Aina has also pulled out due to personal matters.

Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City is injured and cannot play. Sadiq Umar is also recovering from an injury and will miss the game.

Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan and Kelechi Iheanacho from Sevilla both asked to be left out of the squad for family reasons.

Nathan Tella, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, is having problems renewing his passport in the UK and has not been able to join the team.

Even with these absences, head coach Eric Chelle has named a strong team, with a mix of experienced players and stars from the recent Unity Cup-winning squad.

This friendly match is part of Nigeria’s preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.