Moses Simon To Captain New-look Super Eagles Against Russia As Chelle Tests Fresh Talent
Paris FC winger Moses Simon is set to Captain a new-look Super Eagles side when Nigeria takes on Russia in an International friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Simon is expected to assume the captaincy following the withdrawal of regular skipper Wilfred Ndidi from the encounter. Ndidi had initially been named in the 24-man squad announced by head coach Éric Chelle but subsequently pulled out of the fixture. The reason for his withdrawal has not been publicly confirmed.
With several established Super Eagles stars rested or unavailable for the friendly, Simon has emerged as the most experienced member of the travelling group and will be expected to provide leadership as Chelle gives a number of younger players an opportunity to make their mark at senior international level.
The Nigerian delegation has already arrived in Russia ahead of Tuesday’s encounter, with players and officials beginning preparations for the match in Nizhny Novgorod. Kelechi Iheanacho is among the players who have joined up with the squad.
Chelle deliberately assembled a different squad for the Russia friendly after selecting another group for Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. The approach has provided an opportunity to assess the country’s squad depth and expose emerging players to international football.
Among the experienced players in the Russia-bound squad are goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Benjamin Fredricks, midfielder Raphael Onyedika, forwards Akor Adams and Kelechi Iheanacho, alongside Simon.
The squad also contains several players hoping to make their senior international debuts, including Peter Edokpolor, Abdullahi Umar, Chibuzo Nwoko, Suleiman Mubarak and others who have been handed an opportunity to impress the technical crew.
The changes have continued following Ndidi’s withdrawal, with Chelle making further adjustments to the squad. Defender Akpe Victory also withdrew, leading to the inclusion of new replacements ahead of the trip.
For Simon, the assignment represents another leadership responsibility with the national team. The winger has been a regular presence for the Super Eagles and will now be expected to guide a relatively inexperienced group against a Russian side playing on home soil.
Global Mirror News reports that the friendly will also provide Chelle with an important opportunity to examine players outside the established first-choice group, particularly those seeking to earn a permanent place in the national team.
Nigeria’s meeting with Russia will be their second encounter in 16 months. Their previous meeting, played in Moscow in June 2025, ended in a 1-1 draw after Russia took the lead before Tolu Arokodare equalised for the Super Eagles.
The fixture comes shortly after Nigeria’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, making the Russia friendly another chance for Chelle to assess his options and build greater depth ahead of future international assignments.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, with the encounter expected to give Nigeria’s emerging players a major test against the Russian national team.
