Eric Chelle reveals why Felix Agu, Iheanacho, Ndidi were dropped from Nigeria's squad to face Russia

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has explained why Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Felix Agu, who participated in the 2025 Unity Cup, were omitted from Nigeria's travelling squad to Moscow for a friendly against 2018 World Cup hosts Russia. 

Ndidi and Iheanacho were initially named in the 21-man squad list for the upcoming match against Russia at the 
Luzhniki Stadium but the former English Premier League stars pulled out of the squad.

Following approval from the German Football Association, the Nigerian Federation included Agu in the Super Eagles squad for the Unity Cup, after originally calling him up just for training in London.

Having impressed on his senior debut in the Unity Cup clash with Jamaica, Chelle considered including the Werder Bremen fullback in the travelling squad to Russia.

However, the Malian football tactician was forced to drop Agu from the squad after it emerged that the former Germany U21 international lacked a valid visa for entry into Russia.

Speaking to United Kingdom-based Nigerian journalist Austin Okon Akpan in London, Chelle stated: "You saw Ahmed Musa left the camp. Ndidi left because he had a little injury at the end of the game. 

"Iheanacho, too, he has a big problem in his family so he needs to leave the camp.

"Felix Agu, because of his visa. He cannot go to Russia because of his visa so we work on other players who can substitute these players."

Wilfred Ndidi featured for the full duration in both matches against Ghana and Jamaica, battling through injury during the penalty shootout victory over the Reggae Boyz, while Kelechi Iheanacho made substitute appearances in both encounters.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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