The Super Eagles will have 19 players available for Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia after seven players withdrew from the squad for various reasons.

“Refusal by some Clubs to release their players, coupled with injuries to notable names, have seriously weakened Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly match against Russia’s senior men national team,” the Nigeria Football Federation has said in a statement on Sunday.

Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola, Victory Akpe, Moses Usor and Suleiman Mubarak are unavailable for the encounter.

The NFF said Ndidi and Akpe were ruled out through injuries, while Onyedika, Osayi-Samuel and Popoola were stopped from travelling by their respective clubs.

Usor, who was called up after scoring on his Nigeria debut against Madagascar, was also prevented from travelling by Austrian club LASK.

Mubarak, meanwhile, could not secure the residence permit required for his trip to Russia.

The withdrawals initially left head coach Éric Chelle with 18 players in Russia, but late invitee Ibrahim Ajasa of Russian club FC Rostov subsequently joined the camp, taking the number to 19.

The Super Eagles held their final training session at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Monday evening ahead of the friendly.

Full list of 19 players available

Goalkeepers

1. Michael Atata — Ikorodu City
2. Samuel James — SJK FC, Finland
3. Stanley Nwabali — Chippa United, South Africa

Defenders

1. Kenneth Igboke — Enugu Rangers
2. Isaac James — Alverca FC, Portugal
3. Benjamin Fredricks — Brentford FC, England
4. Emmanuel Fernandez — Glasgow Rangers, Scotland
5. Abdullahi Bewene — FC Banik Ostrava, Czechia

Midfielders

1. Chibuzo Nwoke — Fulham FC, England
2. Stephen Michael — Vendsyssel FF, Denmark
3. Igor Wilfred — Kristiansund FC, Norway
4. Aderemi Adeoye — Ikorodu City

Forwards

1. Kelechi Iheanacho — Bursaspor FC, Turkey
2. Moses Simon — Paris FC, France
3. Akor Adams — Venezia FC, Italy
4. Peter Edokpolor — SL Benfica, Portugal
5. Abubakar Umar — FC Famalicao, Portugal
6. Abdullahi Umar — Hradec Kralove, Czechia
7. Ibrahim Ajasa — FC Rostov, Russia

Nigeria will face Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, with the Super Eagles seeking a better result after their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier last week.

The two sides last met in June 2025, when they played out a 1-1 draw at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. (PUNCH)