By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Russia’s national team head coach Valery Karpin has named a 32-man squad ahead of Saturday’s international friendly against Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The match marks a significant test for both sides, particularly for Nigeria, who recently emerged champions of the Unity Cup under new head coach Eric Chelle.
Despite the large squad, Karpin has indicated that not all players will see action, but emphasized his intent to field a competitive side against the African giants.
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“Maybe two or three new players will get a chance, but definitely not everyone,” Karpin said.
“I want to see how we defend, how we press, and how we build out from the back against a team of another level. The requirements are always the same—regardless of the opponent.”
Karpin also confirmed that he has been closely monitoring the Super Eagles’ recent matches in preparation for the encounter.
The friendly will serve as a valuable warm-up for both teams as they prepare for their respective qualification campaigns for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria is expected to give minutes to several new faces as Chelle continues to shape the squad in his unbeaten run as head coach.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
