Nigeria’s next Super Eagles XI: 5 new stars who could start vs Tanzania after Russia draw

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle certainly left Nizhny Novgorod with a new selection problem for the Nigeria national team.

The three-time African champions battled to a 3-3 draw against Russia, coming from a two-goal deficit to earn a positive result.

Chelle’s plans for the match was clearly to inspect players outside his established competitive squad and youngsters who could boost the country’s U23 Olympics football team.

The former Mali national team coach got more than he bargained for. Nine players made their senior Super Eagles debuts, while Peter Edokpolor scored five minutes after coming on and Abdullahi Umar helped create Akor Adams’ stoppage-time equaliser.

Chibuzo Nwoko, Benjamin Fredrick and Abdullahi Bewene also showed enough to make the conversation about Nigeria’s next competitive XI far more interesting.

Chelle separated his squads for the September AFCON qualifiers and the Russia friendly but the next selection could be less rigid.

Nigeria’s next competitive assignment is against Tanzania during the November 9-17 FIFA window, with the Group L rivals scheduled to meet home and away.

Tanzania are already guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON as co-hosts, meaning Nigeria’s battle is effectively for the one qualifying place available to the highest-ranked non-host in the group.

The Super Eagles are currently trailing in the race for that ticket with Guinea-Bissau boasting three more points than the former AFCON kings.

Against Tanzania, Chelle needs to put together a Super Eagles team that plays with energy, industry and hunger, not unlike his setup against Russia.

A blend of the new and the experienced could be key to beating Tanzania home and away. And here’s how Chelle’s Super Eagles could look like in November.

Super Eagles likely XI against Tanzania

Nwabali still holds the goalkeeper’s shirt

Samuel James had the unenviable task of making his international debut against a Russia side that had just destroyed Namibia 6-0.

The SJK goalkeeper conceded three times, but he showed flashes of his talents on a chaotic evening. James deserves another look, but Stanley Nwabali is still the logical choice for Tanzania.

Nwabali started both September AFCON qualifiers, including the 3-0 defeat by Guinea-Bissau in Bissau. Maduka Okoye and Arthur Okonkwo also offer established competition. Yet the Russia experiment did not produce a compelling reason to dislodge Nwabali from the competitive Super Eagles XI.

Projected goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali

Bewene and Fredrick have opened the defensive door

Defence is where the Russia draw could have the most immediate effect.

Nigeria conceded three goals against Guinea-Bissau on September 29, with Franculino Djú, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló punishing Chelle’s side in Bissau. The back four of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Bruno Onyemaechi struggled to contain the hosts.

Chelle responded against Russia by handing starts to Bewene, Emmanuel Fernandez, Benjamin Fredrick and Isaac James.

Bewene was particularly interesting. The Baník Ostrava defender had already earned two caps before Russia and started at right-back, while Fredrick operated centrally. Isaac James, meanwhile, started on the opposite side of the defence.

Fredrick finished the match with one of Nigeria’s stronger individual performances, while Edokpolor’s late introduction gave the youthful side another injection of energy.

A return for Ola Aina is still likely to be considered, but Bewene has made the right-back debate more complicated. Versatile Aina can also get a decent job done at left-back. Fredrick has also given Chelle another option at centre-back.

Projected defence: Abdullahi Bewene, Benjamin Fredrick, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina

Nwoko could become Iwobi’s understudy

Chibuzo Nwoko held the number 17 shirt in trust against Russia, a small detail but with potentially curious consequences.

The Fulham midfielder wore the number associated with Alex Iwobi in Nigeria colours and operated in the central midfield area during the clash in Nizhny Novgorod.

Nwoko did not need to dominate the match to make his case. His value to Chelle may be as a developmental alternative to Iwobi rather than an immediate replacement.

Iwobi remains one of Nigeria’s most influential midfielders and started the 3-0 Guinea-Bissau defeat in the advanced midfield role.

The Russia game, however, showed Chelle that he can develop another player for that creative role for the long-term.

Projected midfield: Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi

The Umar brothers have changed the attacking conversation

The most exciting selection battle may come higher up the pitch.

Abdullahi Umar and Abubakar Umar both made their senior debuts against Russia. The pair were directly involved in the 94th-minute equaliser, Abubakar heading the ball for his brother to chase and square for Adams’ finish.

Their performances could earn them another invitation in November, even if neither immediately displaces Nigeria’s established forwards.

That is because Moses Usor and George Ilenikhena have a separate advantage. Both have already scored competitive goals for Nigeria this qualifying campaign.

Usor came off the bench against Madagascar and scored on his senior debut, while Ilenikhena also found the net in the same 2-1 comeback victory in Uyo.

That gives Chelle a fascinating attacking equation. A fully fit Victor Osimhen would almost certainly lead the line. The Galatasaray striker was ruled out of September’s qualifiers with a thigh injury and also missed the Russia friendly.

If Osimhen is fit in November, the question becomes who joins him. Ademola Lookman started behind Akor Adams and Taiwo Awoniyi against Guinea-Bissau.

Yet Usor, Ilenikhena, Edokpolor and the Umar brothers have ensured that Chelle now has more competition than he had a month ago.

Projected attack: Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, George Ilenikhena, Moses Usor

Projected Super Eagles XI in November:

Nwabali; Bewene, Fredrick, Bassey, Aina; Iwobi, Ndidi; Usor, Osimhen, Ilenikhena, Lookman.