Super Eagles of Nigeria head coach, Eric Chelle, said his team would continue to work on their playing pattern and try to find balance after securing a 1-1 draw in their International friendly match against Russia.
Chelle made the remarks during a post-match press conference at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday night. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze were all absent from the match.
Nevertheless, the three-time African champions showed grit and courage in refusing to bow at a packed Luzhniki Stadium that shook now and again as the crowd roared.
Chelle said that the absence of some of his key players made the match a little difficult, adding however that the team would continue to work on their playing pattern and find balance.
“Now we are talking about the future of my team as we are preparing for the World Cup qualifiers,” Chelle said.
“We made lots of changes to the squad and our usual pressing game was a bit difficult because the new players are yet to fully understand how we want to play. So, we need to keep working on our playing pattern and try to find balance.”
The Franco-Malian coach, however, admitted that the match was a very tough one against a strong opponent.
“Russia has a good team with lots of pressure and technical qualities,” he added. “We did not play well in the first half. We didn’t enforce our pressing game so well.”
“But we were better in the second half with our pressing and that made the difference for us. It was not an easy game. When I say the game was not easy, it was because we played against a very good team.”
They had their chances in the first half and they took it, we had our chance but the keeper saved it. In the second half, Russia had two chances, and we had one or two, and we scored,” Chelle said.
In the 27th minute, Ajayi diverted the ball into his own net beyond a stranded goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for an own-goal. This was after Viktor Melyokhin streamed past Bright Osayi-Samuel on the right and sent the ball into the box.
Substitute Tolu Arokodare chased every ball as the Russian defenders passed among themselves and as goalkeeper Matvei Safonov under-hit the ball, the Genk striker intercepted and equalised in the 71st minute. It was Arokodare’s first goal for Nigeria.
The result meant Nigeria kept its unbeaten record in the year 2025, ahead of two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying games against Rwanda and South Africa in three months’ time.
The Super Eagles, lying fourth in their group, will host Rwanda’s Amavubi in the first week of September. The team will then fly out to Johannesburg four days later to tackle group leaders Bafana Bafana of South Africa in what could be a thrilling encounter.