Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba has expressed disappointment over the wave of withdrawals from Nigeria’s squad for Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia, calling on head coach Eric Chelle to create stronger competition for places in the Super Eagles.
Ikpeba believes representing Nigeria should carry enough importance for players to make themselves available whenever possible, warning against a situation where established internationals feel guaranteed places regardless of their availability for certain assignments.
His comments come after Chelle’s squad for the Russia friendly was significantly depleted, with seven players eventually ruled out for different reasons.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi and Victory Akpe were unavailable through injury, while the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that Raphael Onyedika, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola were stopped from travelling by their clubs.
LASK also declined a late request for Moses Usor, while Suleiman Mubarak could not travel because of a residence permit issue.
While the circumstances mean not every absence can be attributed to an individual player’s decision, Ikpeba believes the wider situation should encourage Chelle to broaden his options and make every position competitive.
The former Monaco striker argued that no player should feel indispensable or assume he can simply return directly to the starting line-up whenever available.
For Ikpeba, Tuesday’s encounter therefore provides Chelle with an important opportunity to examine younger and less established players who could increase competition within the squad.
The withdrawals have left Nigeria with a heavily reshaped group for the clash at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, with Chelle turning to several new faces as the Super Eagles seek a response following their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their previous outing.
Nigeria and Russia last met in Moscow in June 2025, when Tolu Arokodare’s second-half equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for the Super Eagles.
For Ikpeba, however, the bigger issue extends beyond Tuesday’s result.
His message to Chelle is to use the opportunity to establish a squad where the Nigerian shirt must be earned repeatedly, competition remains fierce and no player considers his place untouchable.
