Izuchukwu OkosiSuper Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, will be without a number of players for Friday’s international friendly against Russia at the Luzniski Stadium, Prime Business Africa reports.
The goalkeeping position is not affected by the recent pullouts as first choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was not listed in the first place for the Russia game.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelNwabali recently lost his parents to the cold hands of death with the funerals set to be held soon.
Udinese of Italy keeper, Maduka Okoye and Tanzania-based Omas Obasogie, will be saddled with the goalkeeping tasks.
William Troost-Ekong, who was not involved in the Unity Cup tournament is back on the team as captain in the absence of Ahmed Musa.
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Other Eagles defenders set to take a part in the friendly on Friday include Bright Osayi-Samuel who was also not in London for the Unity Cup.
Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Igho Ogbu, Sodiq Ismaila and Benjamin Frederick who were part of the Unity Cup tournament are all in Moscow for the game.
In midfield, Lazio’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru makes a return to the team, while Savour Isaac replaces the injured Wilfred Ndidi.
In attack, Victor Boniface and Krasnodar FC of Russia striker, Olakunle Oludegun joins Moses Simon and Tolu Arokodare.
Unity Cup ace Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho, have excused themselves to attend to family matters, while Spain-based Sadiq Umar has suffered an injury. Nathan Tella’s United Kingdom passport is undergoing processing.
The team, which arrived in Moscow on Monday, begins 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 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)
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
