Despite being short on firepower, the Super Eagles gave Russia a real fight in Moscow, grinding out a 1-1 draw that showed heart, grit, and a glimpse of what’s to come.
With a long list of top players missing including Osimhen, Lookman, Chukwueze, and Ndidi, this wasn’t the full-strength Nigerian side fans are used to. But even without the big names, the boys in green didn’t back down. In front of a loud crowd at the Luzhniki Stadium, they stayed calm, pressed hard, and made sure they didn’t leave empty-handed.
Head coach Eric Chelle wasn’t shy about how tricky the match was. Speaking after the game, he pointed out that missing so many regulars made things rough, especially when it came to pressing and overall flow. But he’s keeping his eyes on the bigger picture: World Cup qualifiers are just around the corner, and these kinds of matches help the team build chemistry and tweak their playing style.
The match itself had drama from the get-go. Victor Boniface had a golden chance early on but couldn’t quite control Bruno Onyemaechi’s cross. Then, in the 27th minute, things went south when Semi Ajayi accidentally turned the ball into his own net. Russia had been putting on the pressure, and it finally paid off, though not quite the way they planned.
Even so, Nigeria didn’t crumble. The midfield trio of Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru stepped up big time. They kept the game moving, soaked up pressure, and pushed forward when they could. The defence, led by captain William Ekong, was solid too, recovering well after that early hiccup.
In the second half, Nigeria looked sharper. Dele-Bashiru nearly pulled the team level just before halftime with a slick solo run, but Matvei Safonov came out on top in that one-on-one.
The breakthrough finally came in the 71st minute. Tolu Arokodare, who had just come on for Boniface, saw an opening no one else did. He pressed high, pounced on a poor back pass, and calmly rolled the ball into the far corner. His first goal for Nigeria, and it was all about hunger and hustle.
With that equaliser, Nigeria kept their unbeaten run in 2025 intact. And with big qualifiers coming up, first against Rwanda at home, then a tough trip to South Africa, this result sends the right message. Even when the big stars aren’t around, the Super Eagles have plenty of fight in them.
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