The squad of the senior national team of Nigeria for the upcoming friendly game against Russia on Wednesday has been affected by a host of withdrawals according to a press release by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has withdrawn form the team citing an injury as his reason. In his place Sodiq Ismaila of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Remo Stars was added to the squad after playing both games at the recently concluded Unity Cup.
In the midfield, Wilfred Ndidi who was a part of the team at the Unity Cup also pulled out of the game with an injury opening up space for Enugu Rangers midfielder Saviour Isaac, who didn’t get to play at the Unity Cup.
The duo of Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Iheanacho have also excused themselves from the squad for the game due to family related issues. Sadiq Umar widely expected to lead the line has also informed the team of his unavailability due to injury.
Meanwhile Nathan Tella of Bayer Leverkusen who is back in the team after a break of almost two years dropped out of the squad as his passport is currently undergoing renewal.
His absence has opened the door for a first time call up for ex Nigeria U17 forward Olakunle Olusegun who is based in Russia, and won the Russian League with Krasnodar.
The team, which arrived in Moscow on Monday, will begin training sessions on tuesday ahead of the game, which 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)
