The Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, says his team would continue to work on their playing pattern and try to find balance.
Chelle made the remarks during a post-match press conference at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday night.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an under-strength Nigeria side held Russia’s in-form Sbornaya to a 1-1 draw in an entertaining friendly match in Moscow.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze were all absent from the match.
Nevertheless, the three-time African champions showed grit and courage in refusing to bow at a packed Luzhniki Stadium that shook now and again as the crowd purred.
Chelle said that the absence of some of his key players made the match a little difficult, adding however that the team would continue to work on their playing pattern and find balance.
“Now we are talking about the future of my team as we are preparing for the World Cup qualifiers.
“We made lots of changes to the squad and our usual pressing game was a bit difficult because the new players are yet to fully understand how we want to play.
“So, we need to keep working on our playing pattern and try to find balance,” he said.
The Franco-Malian gaffer however admitted that the match was a very tough one against a strong opponent.
“Russia has a good team with lots of pressure and technical qualities.
“We did not play well in the first half. We didn’t enforce our pressing game so we’ll.
“But we were better in the second half with our pressing and that made the difference for us. It was not an easy game.
“When I say the game was not easy, it was because we played against a very good team. They had their chances in the first half and they took it, we had our chance but the keeper saved it.
“In the second half, Russia had two chances, and we had one or two, and we scored,” he said.
In the absence of the illustrious forwards, Victor Boniface got another chance to shine.
But in the 8th minute, he put too much power in chesting the ball from a cross by Bruno Onyemaechi, and the Russian defence was easily let off.
In the 27th minute, Ajayi unwittingly diverted the ball into his own net beyond a stranded goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.
This was after Viktor Melyokhin streamed past Bright Osayi-Samuel on the right and sent the ball into the box.
On the back foot but unbowed, the Eagles continued to knock the ball around while searching for openings in an airtight Russian defence.
Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru were resplendent in the midfield, and captain William Ekong, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi held the back-line firm.
Five minutes from recess, the Super Eagles got the break they needed to draw level, as Dele-Bashiru waltzed his way past the defenders, and came face to face with the inscrutable Matvei Safonov.
Safonov however won the battle of wits, diverting the ball over the sticks.
Substitute Tolu Arokodare got the needed equaliser for Nigeria in the 71st minute, barely 10 minutes after he replaced Boniface in attack.
This was when he opted to chase every ball as the Russian defenders passed among themselves, and as Safonov underhit the ball, the Belgium-based forward sprang forward and slotted into the far corner.
It was Arokodare’s first goal for Nigeria, and was no more than Nigeria’s endeavour deserved.
The result meant Nigeria kept its unbeaten record in the year 2025, ahead of two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying games against Rwanda and South Africa in three months’ time.
The Super Eagles, lying fourth in their group, will host Rwanda’s Amavubi in the first week of September.
The team will then fly out to Johannesburg four days later to tackle group leaders Bafana Bafana of South Africa in what could be a flaming war.
(NAN)
