The Super Eagles will have 19 players available for Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia after seven players withdrew from the squad for various reasons.
“Refusal by some Clubs to release their players, coupled with injuries to notable names, have seriously weakened Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly match against Russia’s senior men national team,” the Nigeria Football Federation has said in a statement on Sunday.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola, Victory Akpe, Moses Usor and Suleiman Mubarak are unavailable for the encounter.
The NFF said Ndidi and Akpe were ruled out through injuries, while Onyedika, Osayi-Samuel and Popoola were stopped from travelling by their respective clubs.
Mubarak, meanwhile, could not secure the residence permit required for his trip to Russia.
The withdrawals initially left head coach Éric Chelle with 18 players in Russia, but late invitee Ibrahim Ajasa of Russian club FC Rostov subsequently joined the camp, taking the number to 19.The Super Eagles held their final training session at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Monday evening ahead of the friendly.