Ajasa earns late Super Eagles call-up for Russia friendly
Nigeria coach Eric Chelle has handed a late invitation to Rostov midfielder Ibraheem Mahfus Ajasa for Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia.
The 20-year-old was called up after three players withdrew from the squad. Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Victory Akpe all pulled out. Ajasa replaces Osayi-Samuel.
Rostov confirmed the invitation on its website on Saturday, wishing Ajasa good luck. The Lagos-born midfielder joined the Russian club in 2025 and could now make his senior Nigeria debut.
The friendly will be played at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6. It closes Nigeria’s October international window.
The Super Eagles arrive in Russia after a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Chelle is using a youthful squad and will hope for a stronger response.
The call-up continues Chelle’s push to test young talent. Six midfielders and three forwards joined the senior camp for the first time this window. For Ajasa, a strong showing in Russia could open the door to a regular Super Eagles place.
Khabar 24h Editorial Desk — our explainers are prepared by the Khabar 24h editorial team using AI-assisted research tools, and every piece is reviewed by a human editor before publishing. We do not claim original reporting: our work is turning complex topics into simple, accurate summaries. Spotted an error? Write to contact@khabar24h.com — our corrections policy aims for same-day review.
More from this author →
Leave a Reply