Nigeria will face Russia without captain Wilfred Ndidi after the experienced midfielder pulled out of the Super Eagles’ squad for Tuesday’s international friendly in Nizhny Novgorod.
Ndidi was initially included in Eric Chelle’s 24-man squad for the October 6 encounter, but his withdrawal means the coach will have to reorganise his midfield options ahead of the meeting with the Russian national team.
The reason for the midfielder’s withdrawal was not disclosed in the report announcing his absence.
His unavailability is significant because Ndidi was not only one of the most experienced players in the squad but was also expected to provide leadership on the pitch. The Beşiktaş midfielder has been a regular figure in the Super Eagles setup for several years and has played a key role in Nigeria’s midfield.
His absence, however, could give other midfielders an opportunity to make a stronger impression under Chelle.
The Russia friendly comes at an important point for the Super Eagles, who are looking to assess their options ahead of future competitive fixtures. Chelle has already used recent international windows to examine different combinations, and the absence of some established players has created room for younger and less experienced members of the squad.
Nigeria’s travelling group includes several players hoping to establish themselves at senior international level.
Among the new faces is Basel defender Victory Akpe, who received his first Super Eagles invitation after making an impression in Switzerland. Other players in the squad are also expected to use the friendly as an opportunity to convince the coaching staff that they deserve a longer run with the national team.
For the midfield, Raphael Onyedika is among the players available to Chelle, while other options include Chibuzo Nwoko, Stephen Michael, Igor Wilfred, Ridwan Abdulrasaq, Suleiman Mubarak and Aderemi Adeoye.
The coach will therefore have several alternatives as he prepares a side capable of competing with Russia.
The match will also give Nigeria an opportunity to respond after a disappointing result in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Super Eagles suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat away to Guinea-Bissau on September 29, a result that ended the latest international window on a difficult note.
The Russia fixture is not a competitive match, but it provides Chelle with another chance to evaluate his players against a national team outside Africa.
Nigeria and Russia have previously met at senior international level. Their most recent encounter ended in a 1-1 draw in Moscow in June 2025.
Russia took the lead through an own goal by Bruno Onyemaechi before Tolu Arokodare restored parity for Nigeria in the second half.
The latest meeting will take place at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, one of the venues used during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles squad contains a mixture of established internationals and players seeking to make their mark. Stanley Nwabali, Moses Simon, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Benjamin Fredricks, Raphael Onyedika and Akor Adams are among the familiar names included in the selection.
Kelechi Iheanacho is also part of the squad after returning to the national-team setup.
With Ndidi no longer available, Chelle’s immediate task will be deciding how to balance experience and experimentation in midfield.
The friendly could also provide valuable minutes for players who have had limited opportunities with the Super Eagles. For the newer members of the squad, the game represents a chance to show that they can compete at international level.
Nigeria’s preparations have already been affected by changes to the original squad, making the final team selection particularly important.
The Super Eagles are expected to continue their preparations in Russia ahead of Tuesday’s encounter.
For Ndidi, the withdrawal means he will miss a fixture in which he was originally expected to lead the team.
For Chelle, it is another adjustment to make before kick-off.
The coach must now build his midfield around the players who remain available while using the friendly to assess the wider squad.
With Nigeria seeking to develop greater depth ahead of its upcoming competitive commitments, the Russia game offers an opportunity for players on the fringes of the team to make their case.
The Super Eagles will therefore enter the encounter without one of their most experienced midfielders, but with several players eager to take advantage of the opening created by his absence.
