Osayi-Samuel pulls out of friendly

FILE COPY: Bright Osayi-Samuel

Fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel has withdrawn from Nigeria’s friendly against Russia, adding to the squad problems facing head coach Éric Chelle in Nizhny Novgorod, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

He is the third player to leave the Super Eagles’ travelling party ahead of the Tuesday, October 6 fixture. No reason has been given for his withdrawal.

Osayi-Samuel featured in the 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau on September 29, a result that left Nigeria second in Group L with three points. Mama Balde scored the hosts’ second goal in the 66th minute, beating the fullback on the day.

Captain Wilfred Ndidi and Basel centre-back Victory Akpe had earlier dropped out of the squad. Ndidi reportedly picked up a knock during the qualifier in Bissau, while Akpe was injured in training only days before.

Chelle moved quickly to fill the first two gaps by calling up Stade Reims midfielder John Otomewo and Tromsø defender Vince Osuji. The technical team must now find a replacement for Osayi-Samuel to strengthen a thinned-out backline.

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The match is the last of the Super Eagles’ three-game international window.

A core group of senior players remains available, and Kelechi Iheanacho, Stanley Nwabali, Akor Adams and stand-in captain Moses Simon have already arrived in the host city to begin training. They will face temperatures of around eight degrees Celsius.

Osayi-Samuel was also part of the Nigeria squad that travelled to Moscow for the first meeting between the sides at the Luzhniki Stadium on June 6, 2025. Russia took the lead in the 27th minute when Semi Ajayi turned Viktor Melekhin’s cross into his own net.

Tolu Arokodare, a substitute, levelled in the 71st minute after pouncing on a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, and the game ended 1-1.

Tuesday’s rematch gives Nigeria the chance to improve on that result and recover from the setback in Bissau.

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