Éric Chelle names 24-man Super Eagles squad for Russia friendly on Oct 6

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has named a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s international friendly against Russia, set for Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Russia. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will lead the team, which includes experienced players such as Moses Simon, Stanley Nwabali, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Benjamin Fredricks, Raphael Onyedika, Kelechi Iheanacho and Akor Adams.

The selection is significant as it marks the first senior national team call-ups for Finland-based goalkeeper Samuel James (SJK FC) and Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe (FC Basel). Additionally, six midfielders and three forwards are joining the camp for the first time, reflecting Chelle’s ongoing assessment of options ahead of the match and future qualifiers.

For fans, the friendly offers a chance to see how the new faces integrate with the established core. While no ticket or broadcast details were provided, the match serves as preparation for upcoming competitions, and supporters can watch for performances from the debutantes and the attacking trio of Iheanacho, Simon and Adams. The squad list includes goalkeepers Michael Atata, Samuel James, Stanley Nwabali; defenders Kenneth Igboke, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Victory Akpe, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Abdullahi Bewene; midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Chibuzo Nwoko, Stephen Michael, Igor Wilfred, Ridwan Abdulrasaq, Suleiman Mubarak, Aderemi Adeoye; and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Peter Edokpolor, Abubakar Umar, Abdullahi Umar.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/17/friendly-chelle-lists-24-players-for-super-eagles-vs-russia/