Super Eagles depart for Moscow ahead of Russia friendly after Unity Cup win

By Damilola Oyebode

Fresh from their Unity Cup triumph, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have departed for Moscow ahead of their high-profile international friendly against Russia, scheduled for Friday, June 6 at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Nigeria edged Jamaica in a thrilling Unity Cup final settled by penalties after a dramatic 2–2 draw in regulation time.

The tournament served as part of head coach Eric Chelle’s preparations for upcoming international assignments.

Chelle has named a 21-man squad for the Russia fixture, including the return of key players who missed the Unity Cup.

Captain William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika, Victor Boniface, and Sadiq Umar are among those recalled to the team.

Players not included in the squad will return to their clubs, with a few expected to feature in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.

The fixture will serve as a vital test for the Super Eagles ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers and international tournaments.

Full Squad for Russia Friendly:

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania)

Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg, Germany); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes, Nigeria)

Forwards: Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough, England); Moses Simon (Nantes, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (Genk, Belgium); Sadiq Umar (Valencia, Spain)

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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