Akor Adams is expected to spearhead Nigeria’s attack when the Super Eagles face Russia in an international friendly on Tuesday, while experienced winger Moses Simon will captain the team in the absence of regular skipper Wilfred Ndidi.
The match presents an opportunity for head coach Éric Chelle to assess a largely experimental squad following a series of withdrawals caused by injuries and club restrictions.
With several established stars unavailable, Adams and Simon are expected to shoulder significant responsibility as Nigeria seeks a positive response after last week’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Venezia forward is likely to be partnered in attack by Kelechi Iheanacho, who has enjoyed an encouraging start to life at Turkish club Bursaspor after leaving Sevilla.
Adams, who joined Venezia during the summer transfer window, will be eager to make an impact both for Nigeria and to boost his confidence following a challenging start to the Serie A campaign.
The 26-year-old has called on the team to maintain the high standards expected of the Super Eagles despite the number of new faces in camp.
“We have already set the standards very high as the Super Eagles. That is one thing we should do going into the next game. We know the standards and we should live up to them,” Adams said.
The striker also welcomed the opportunity for several newcomers to make their mark at international level.
“There are a lot of new boys in camp. I’m happy for them and congratulations to those who are going to make their debut. The coach has made it clear that we are here to try our best to win.”
Adams acknowledged the challenge posed by Russia, describing the hosts as a strong and motivated side.
“Russia is a very good team as well, and I think they are very hungry to play games because of their peculiar situation. For us, it is about giving our best,” he added.
Alongside Adams, Simon, Iheanacho and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali are among the most experienced players available for the fixture.
Defenders Emmanuel Fernandez and Benjamin Fredrick are also expected to feature, while several emerging talents have been given an opportunity to impress.
The squad is without key players including Ndidi, Ademola Lookman, Raphael Onyedika, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Victory Akpe, all of whom are unavailable for the encounter.
For Adams, the friendly offers another chance to strengthen his growing international career. The striker made his senior debut for Nigeria during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and scored against Lesotho on his first appearance.
Since then, he has become a regular member of the national team setup and will be aiming to add to his international goal tally when the Super Eagles take on Russia in Nizhny Novgorod.
