Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has been forced to reshuffle his squad ahead of Nigeria's international friendly against Russia following the withdrawal of several key players.

Six players initially invited for the match will no longer participate. Ola Aina, Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho have been excused to attend to family matters, while Wilfred Ndidi and Sadiq Umar are unavailable due to injuries.

Additionally, Nathan Tella could not travel with the team to Russia because of issues related to the expiration of his contract.

Team Arrives in Moscow

The Super Eagles contingent arrived in Moscow on Monday and is scheduled to begin training sessions on Tuesday in preparation for the match.

Friday's friendly encounter will take place at the 78,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, providing a significant test for Chelle's reshuffled squad.

This match comes as part of Nigeria's continued international engagements under Chelle's leadership, with the coach previously expressing his desire for the team to maintain their winning momentum against the Russians.

The Russian side appears ready for the challenge, with their goalkeeper Agkatsev reportedly preparing to face what he described as a "strong team" in the Super Eagles.

Chelle, who recently celebrated success with the national team after winning the Unity Cup, will be looking to continue building on that momentum despite the absence of several regular squad members.