Super Eagles forward Moses Simon has praised Nigeria’s young players following their impressive 3-3 comeback draw against Russia in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday.
Nigeria went ahead through Kelechi Iheanacho but eventually found themselves 3-1 down after Russia responded with three goals.
However, the Super Eagles fought back in the second half, with debutant Peter Edokpolor reducing the deficit before Akor Adams scored in stoppage time to secure a share of the spoils.
The match provided Éric Chelle with an opportunity to assess several players, with nine members of the squad making their senior international debuts.
Only six starters had previously featured for the Super Eagles, highlighting the inexperienced nature of the team that faced Russia.
Simon, one of the more experienced players in the starting lineup, reflected on the performance and praised the character shown by the younger members of the squad.
Writing on X, the Paris FC forward said: “A tough atmosphere, a demanding test, but these young players stood tall and showed real character to earn a commendable draw.”
Simon also highlighted the qualities he believes were displayed by the emerging players during the contest.
“The talent, courage and composure on display offer plenty of reasons to believe in a brighter and greater future for this team," he added.
The experienced winger concluded his message with an optimistic assessment of the team's prospects, saying: “The future is looking good for our country.”
The draw offered Nigeria a positive response after their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their previous outing and gave Chelle valuable insight into the depth available within his squad.
Wale Adejumo
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