Chelle reveals why four Super Eagles stars withdrew from Russia friendly

By Femi Fabunmi

Head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Eric Chelle, has clarified the reasons behind the sudden withdrawal of four key players from the national team’s camp ahead of their high-profile international friendly against Russia.

The players are Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Felix Agu, and Ahmed Musa.

The friendly match, scheduled to hold at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday, was initially set to feature all four players, who had been named in the 21-man squad.

However, unexpected developments led to their exits from camp, prompting questions from fans and stakeholders.

Speaking in an interview with UK-based Nigerian journalist Austin Okon-Akpan, Coach Chelle offered a breakdown of the circumstances that led to each player’s withdrawal.

He revealed that team captain Ahmed Musa departed the camp to attend his wedding, a personal event that required his presence and had been planned in advance.

Wilfred Ndidi, who featured in the Super Eagles’ earlier friendly match against Jamaica, reportedly picked up a minor injury during that encounter.

As a precaution, the Leicester City midfielder was excused from the squad to allow time for recovery.

Forward Kelechi Iheanacho, also a member of the initial roster, left the camp due to an urgent family matter that required his immediate attention.

Chelle did not disclose the nature of the issue but confirmed it was serious enough to necessitate Iheanacho’s absence.

Meanwhile, full-back Felix Agu was unable to travel with the squad to Russia due to visa complications.

Despite efforts by the team’s administrative staff, the documentation could not be processed in time for the trip.

Chelle, while acknowledging the setback, assured that the team remains focused and that there are adequate replacements within the squad.