SEVERAL Super Eagles stars, including Wilfred Ndidi, Ola Aina and Kelechi Iheanacho, have pulled out of the squad ahead of the friendly against Russia in Moscow on Friday.
The withdrawals are due to injuries and other factors, forcing Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle to update his squad for the match.
The goalkeeping sector is unaffected as first choice Stanley Nwabali was not listed for the trip in the first place, as a result of the upcoming burial rites for his late parents.
Italy-based Maduka Okoye and Tanzania-based Amas Obasogie are the goalkeepers in the squad for the friendly.
In the defence, captain William Troost-Ekong is in Moscow along with Bright Osayi-Samuel, joining the Unity Cup trio of Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi and Igoh Ogbu.
However, Nottingham Forest full-back Aina excused himself from the friendly, and Chelle has had to draft in the Unity Cup duo of Sodiq Ismaila and Benjamin Fredericks, who impressed on his debut against Jamaica on Saturday.
In midfield, injury to Ndidi has handed Enugu Rangers’ Saviour Isaac the opportunity to feature.
The Super Eagles B star will join Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Christantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha in the tussle for playing time.
In attack, Unity Cup stars Samuel Chukwueze and Iheanacho have excused themselves to attend to family matters, while Spain-based Sadiq Umar has sustained an injury.
Nathan Tella’s United Kingdom passport is undergoing a renewal process, so he is unable to travel.
This situation has left Chelle with only Victor Boniface, Simon Moses and Tolu Arokodare in attack, and he has had to call up Russia-based former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays for Krasnodar FC.
The team, which arrived in Moscow on Monday, will begin training sessions on Tuesday.
The match 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 SQUAD 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)