Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has called up three NPFL stars – Michael Atata, Kenneth Igboke and Aderemi Adeoye – in his list of 24 players that will battle Russia’s senior men’s national team in a friendly game in October, reports www.aclsports.com.
All three were part of the team that won the Unity Cup back in May, and following some performances that impressed the Franco-Malian, he has opted to recall them into the squad for this game.
It is the second time Nigeria will be facing the Russians in 15 months, and this latest clash has been scheduled for the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, 6th October.
The squad will be led by captain Wilfred Ndidi, with ace forward Moses Simon, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Benjamin Fredrick, midfielder Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Moses Simon and Akor Adams also called.
Finland-based goalkeeper Samuel James, Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe, and a sextet of midfielders and trio of forwards will enter the Nigeria senior team camp for the first time.
The squad is made up of U23 players, and the game is being used to prepare the side ahead of the U23 AFCON qualifiers that begin in November.
24 SUPER EAGLES FOR FRIENDLY MATCH VERSUS ‘THE BOYS’ OF RUSSIA
Goalkeepers: Michael Atata (Ikorodu City); Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers); Isaac James (Alverca FC, Portugal); Benjamin Fredrick (Brentford FC, England); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham FC, England); Abdullahi Bewene (FC Banik Ostrava, Czechia)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany); Chibuzo Nwoko (Fulham FC, England); Stephen Michael (Vendsyssel FF, Denmark); Igor Wilfred (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Ridwan Abdulrasaq (Al Wasl, UAE); Suleiman Mubarak (Slavia Prague, Czechia); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City);
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Akor Adams (Venezia FC, Italy); Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Abubakar Umar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia)
