Super Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle, says his players are highly motivated to return to winning ways when Nigeria face Russia in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium today
The Super Eagles will be looking to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture.
Nigeria are expected to field a largely second-string squad, with several regular players unavailable for the encounter.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi and Basel defender Victory Akpe are ruled out through injury, while Bright Osayi-Samuel, Raphael Onyedika and Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola were not released by their respective clubs.
Moses Usor, who scored on his Super Eagles debut against Madagascar in Uyo on September 25, was later called up for the Russia friendly but was prevented from travelling by his Austrian club, LASK.
Slavia Prague midfielder Suleiman Mubarak also missed the trip after his residence permit was not secured in time.
Despite the challenges surrounding player availability, Chelle says the team remains determined to put up a strong performance against Russia.
The Franco-Malian coach says the match will also provide an opportunity for new players to prove themselves, stressing that the squad is motivated to give its best for the country.
Chelle also reflected on the defeat to Guinea-Bissau, identifying a lack of intensity as one of the factors responsible for the loss.
The Super Eagles will face Russia on today as they seek to restore confidence ahead of their next competitive fixtures.
