Super Eagles’ 5 best players vs Russia: Fredrick 3rd, Bewene 5th after 3-3 thriller

Nigeria’s Super Eagles powered late to a remarkable 3-3 draw against Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday.

The former African champions turned what looked like another bruising night into a stirring late comeback on European soil.

Eric Chelle’s side led through Kelechi Iheanacho after 10 minutes but fell 3-1 behind before fighting back through Peter Edokpolor and Akor Adams.

Russia controlled large stretches of the contest, enjoying 62 per cent possession and registering 15 shots to Nigeria’s nine. Yet the Super Eagles refused to disappear after Alexey Miranchuk’s 54th-minute goal appeared to put the hosts firmly in command.

Adams’ fourth-minute stoppage-time finish completed a comeback that carried particular weight after Nigeria’s 3-0 defeat by Guinea-Bissau in their previous AFCON 2027 qualifier.

Among Chelle’s experimental lineup, five players stood out for their contribution to an unexpectedly dramatic evening.

Super Eagles top 5 performers vs Russia

5. Abdullahi Bewene – 7.1

Bewene’s night began with the perfect attacking contribution in the Super Eagles’ friendly clash with Russia.

The Baník Ostrava defender combined with Iheanacho in the 10th minute, returning the ball to the Bursaspor forward after the striker had initially played it into his path. Iheanacho then produced a superb finish from outside the box to put Nigeria ahead.

Bewene’s energy down the right gave Nigeria an outlet during the opening stages and his attacking intent was one of the reasons the Super Eagles made such a bright start.

There was, however, a price to pay. His willingness to push forward left spaces behind him, and Russia’s wingers found opportunities to exploit those areas as the match progressed. Some of Russia’s best attacks were launched from his flank.

Still, the assist and his attacking ambition made the Baník Ostrava full-back one of Nigeria’s brighter performers in Nizhny Novgorod. He earns a 7.1 rating as scored by Flashscore.

4. Peter Edokpolor – 7.2

Edokpolor needed only a short spell on the pitch to change the mood of the match.

The Benfica B winger replaced Moses Simon in the 70th minute, with Nigeria trailing 3-1. Within eight minutes, he had dragged his team back into contention.

The 19-year-old won possession in midfield, drove towards the Russian defence and fired towards goal. His effort took a deflection before finding the net in the 78th minute, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

His goal was only part of the impact. Edokpolor’s direct running forced Russian defenders to retreat and gave Nigeria an attacking edge that had been missing earlier. His senior debut could hardly have arrived with more drama.

3. Benjamin Fredrick – 7.3

Fredrick quietly produced one of Nigeria’s more assured performances on a difficult evening for the defence.

Despite his young age, the Brentford defender was one of the more experienced heads in Chelle’s experimental starting XI. Fredrick had the unenviable task of dealing with a Russian attack that eventually produced three goals. Despite the pressure, Fredrick brought composure to the Super Eagles backline on numerous occasions.

His performance was particularly encouraging because Russia spent long periods controlling possession and attacking Nigeria’s defensive structure.

He battled hard and rarely did Russia get the better of him, making his display one of the more encouraging aspects of the Super Eagles’ disappointing defensive display.

2. Abubakar Umar – 7.4

Abubakar Umar made one of the most important contribution of the encounter.

The Famalicão forward entered the contest in the second half and was deployed towards the right side rather than in his more familiar central role. That change gave Nigeria an injection of pace and direct running during the late assault on Russia’s goal.

He repeatedly tried to isolate Russian defenders, including one attack in which he turned his marker before getting a shot away. His most important contribution came in stoppage time when he intelligently laid the ball off for Adams to complete the comeback.

Umar’s willingness to attack space helped transform Nigeria’s final 20 minutes from a desperate chase into a genuine threat.

1. Akor Adams – 7.5

Venezia forward Akor Adams did not have the best night of his international career, but he delivered when Nigeria needed him most.

Introduced at half-time for Iheanacho, the Venezia striker spent much of the second half battling for scraps as Russia’s defence kept Nigeria’s forward line quiet. His patience finally paid off in the 94th minute.

Emmanuel Fernandez’s searching pass launched the counter, Abubakar Umar supplied the decisive ball and Adams stretched to meet it, keeping his composure to finish and make it 3-3.

It was the sort of finish that can change the narrative around a striker. After criticism surrounding his displays in Nigeria’s opening AFCON qualifiers, Adams answered with a goal that saved the Super Eagles from defeat in Russia.