"There are other good players": Russia manager downplays absence of Nigeria star players ahead of friendly

• Nigeria volition look Russia successful an planetary affable astatine the iconic Luzhniki Stadium successful Moscow connected Friday, June 6
• Super Eagles bushed Jamaica 5-4 connected penalties to triumph the 2025 Unity Cup successful Brentford, London, aft dispatching Ghana 2-1 successful the semifinal
• The three-time AFCON victor produced an outstanding show without Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman astatine the four-nation tournament

Russia manager Valery Karpin says Nigeria tin nutrient a amended broadside without the beingness of their apical striker, Victor Osimhen.

The World Football Governing Body (FIFA) has sanctioned the affable lucifer betwixt Nigeria and Russia, scheduled for Friday, June 6, successful Moscow.

Nigeria is coming beardown into the affable aft winning the 2025 Unity Cup, with different salient players trying to unafraid a starting garment up of the September 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification matches.

Super Eagles caput manager Eric Chelle lifts the trophy arsenic the squad celebrates winning the Unity Cup last against Jamaica. Photo by: Catherine Ivill - AMA.
Source: Getty Images

Nigeria person loads of bully players- Karpin

Russian manager Valery Karpin has dismissed reports that the Super Eagles are fielding a 2nd squad against Russia successful their planetary affable match.

According to All Nigeria, the 56-year-old said his broadside is prepared to instrumentality connected the three-time AFCON victor contempt the lack of Galatasaray guardant Victor Osimhen and Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman.

The Spartak Moscow fable said the Sbornaya would beryllium without cardinal players similar Monaco prima Aleksandr Golovin and Real Sociedad prima Arsen Zakharyan.

He added that 4 of their players did not feature successful the crippled against Zambia. He said via KPRU:

“Nigeria to play against Russia without Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman does not alteration our preparations; determination volition beryllium different bully footballers. “It is each implicit galore media outlets, net broadcasts, that Nigeria is bringing a 2nd squad lone due to the fact that 2 leaders didn’t come. “We tin arsenic accidental that we are bringing a 2nd team. We don’t person Golovin, we don’t person Zakharyan. Golovin, Zakharyan, Barinov, Diveev were not successful the lucifer with Zambia. These are our main players, our stars. Safonov was not there. But nary 1 is talking astir this.

Nigeria squad radical during the Unity Cup Final betwixt Jamaica and Nigeria astatine Gtech Community Stadium successful Brentford, England. Photo by: Catherine Ivill - AMA.
Source: Getty Images

Nigeria not presenting a anemic side- Karpin

Valery Karpin has insisted that the Super Eagles, led by manager Eric Chelle, are not presenting a anemic broadside up of their affable against Russia.

The erstwhile Celta Vigo manager noted that portion the inclusion of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman would person added much flair and drawn much fans to the stadium, Nigeria remains a beardown and competitory team. He said:

“Of course. I repeat, I would similar to person some Osimhen and Lookman to trial our squad against the champion players. But their lack surely does not marque Nigeria fundamentally weaker."

Chelle speaks up of planetary friendly

Legit.ng earlier reported that Super Eagles caput manager Eric Chelle has disclosed that his squad volition push for victory successful their upcoming affable lucifer against Russia.

Chelle emphasised his tendency to support the team’s winning streak arsenic helium continues to experimentation with his squad.

The Nigerian broadside volition usage the crippled arsenic a build-up to the World Cup qualifiers, which instrumentality successful September.

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Source: Legit.ng