Super Eagles: Everything Troost-Ekong and Eric Chelle said before Russia friendly

Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong and head coach Eric Chelle have shared their thoughts ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly match against Russia, Soccernet.ng reports.

The clash, scheduled to take place in Russia, serves as part of Nigeria’s preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Troost-Ekong stressed the importance of the encounter and stated that the Super Eagles are in Russia strictly for business and not tourism.

“We are here for business, it’s not a tourist trip,” the former PAOK centre-back said. “As much as we like to enjoy what we see here, we’re very much looking forward to the game tomorrow.”

Get Our Sports News First – Click To Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!

Troost-Ekong admitted he doesn’t know much about the current Russian squad but revealed that the Super Eagles technical team had done their homework.

“We’ve watched a lot of video in the last few days to understand how the team plays,” he said. “They have an outstanding record here—lots of goals scored and yet to concede. We take them very seriously.”

With a relatively new-look squad under the guidance of Chelle, Troost-Ekong acknowledged that the team is still adapting to the new playing philosophy.

“We are here to understand our playing style under the new coach. We have a lot of new faces, and we’re continuing to build our project toward AFCON and World Cup qualification.”

He also provided a glimpse of Russia’s tactical shape.

“We’ve seen a team that plays 4-3-3. They press high and have intimidated teams by scoring a lot of goals and dominating possession,” he noted. “It’s now a challenge for us to explore areas where they are vulnerable.”

Meanwhile, head coach Eric Chelle shed light on the absence of several key players, including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Wilfred Ndidi, and Nathan Tella.

“Osimhen and Lookman are great players with good technique and intelligence, but the season is over, and they are currently focusing on their club futures,” Chelle explained.
“Nathan Tella is not here due to passport and visa issues. Chukwueze has family matters to resolve, and Ndidi has a groin injury.”

Chelle also acknowledged the strength of the Russian side.

“Russia has a very good team with players who bring a lot of intensity, aggression, and technical quality,” he said. “I’m still thinking about the tactical plan, but our objective remains the same: to win every game.”

“We know it won’t be easy. It will be a very difficult match, but we are prepared.”

Watch the video here:

Nigeria will hope to use the friendly clash to fine-tune their tactics ahead of a crucial period in international football.