Chelle Sees Strong Future for Super Eagles After Russia Draw

Posted : 08 October 2026

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle believes Nigeria’s 3-3 draw with Russia has shown that the team has enough talent to build a strong side for future competitions. The coach was particularly encouraged by the response of his experimental squad after Russia took a 3-1 lead in Tuesday’s international friendly in Nizhny Novgorod.

Nigeria entered the game with several established players unavailable because of injuries, club restrictions and other issues. Only six players in the starting XI had previous senior international experience, while nine players received their Super Eagles debuts during the game.

Kelechi Iheanacho gave Nigeria an early lead before Russia turned the match around. Lechi Sadulaev and Matvey Kislyak scored before half-time, while Aleksey Miranchuk added a third goal early in the second half to put the hosts 3-1 ahead.

Nigeria, however, produced a strong late response. Peter Edokpolor reduced the deficit in the 78th minute before Akor Adams completed the comeback with an equaliser in the fourth minute of added time. The result gave Nigeria a positive finish to an international window that had also included a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Chelle said the result gave him useful information about the players who were given an opportunity. He praised Russia’s quality but said Nigeria’s tactical adjustments helped the team recover after the hosts gained control.

“I’m happy with my team,” Chelle said after the match. He added that the coaching staff had learned what the new players could offer, information that would help Nigeria going forward.

The performance of the young players also earned praise from Russian coach Sergei Tashuyev. He said Russia lost concentration late in the game and struggled to contain Nigeria’s younger players, who had an extra motivation to prove themselves at senior level.

Peter Edokpolor made a notable impact after coming off the bench to score on his senior debut. Abdullahi Umar also impressed and provided the assist for Adams’ late equaliser, giving Chelle more options to consider ahead of future international assignments.

The draw has also sparked calls for another meeting between the two nations. Nigerian Ambassador to Russia Joseph Olusola Iji backed the idea of hosting Russia in Nigeria, describing a return fixture as a positive prospect after the six-goal contest.

Chelle Sees Strong Future for Super Eagles After Russia Draw

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