Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to deliver a strong performance against Russia as Nigeria prepare for Tuesday’s international friendly in Nizhny Novgorod.
The Super Eagles head into the encounter eager to bounce back from last week’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Nigeria will field a largely experimental squad against the Russians after several established players were ruled out through injuries, club restrictions and administrative issues.
Despite the setbacks, Chelle insisted that his players remain highly motivated and determined to secure a positive result.
“Some clubs don’t want the players to come. We have to manage the situation,” Chelle said during his pre-match press conference.
“We lost our last game, and the expectation for this game is to give the new players the opportunity to show what they can do.”
The Malian tactician stressed that every player in camp understands the importance of representing Nigeria and is eager to make an impression.
“We are motivated. The players want to win, and they want to give their best for the jersey and the country.”
Chelle also reflected on the lessons from the defeat to Guinea-Bissau, identifying a lack of intensity as one of the key factors behind the disappointing result.
According to the Super Eagles coach, his side must show greater aggression and energy against a Russian team known for its high-tempo approach.
“This is not the same team. We lost the game against Guinea-Bissau because our intensity was not good. It’s going to be a different game,” he said.
“The Russian team also play with a lot of intensity. When they don’t have the ball, they are always aggressive. I want my team to play the same way too.”
The former Mali coach added that the performance of his players will be just as important as the result, particularly with several newcomers hoping to stake a claim for future opportunities.
“If we play that way tomorrow, I will be very happy. I want to see a good game and a good performance from the players.”
The friendly presents an opportunity for Chelle to assess emerging talents within the squad while also rebuilding confidence after Nigeria’s difficult start to their AFCON qualifying campaign.
With experienced players such as Moses Simon, Stanley Nwabali, Kelechi Iheanacho and Akor Adams expected to play key roles, the Super Eagles will be aiming to return to winning ways against the Russians.
