Nigeria's Super Eagles have 19 players in camp at Nizhny Novgorod as they count down to Tuesday's international friendly against Russia, with the squad bolstered by the arrival of late invitee Ibrahim Ajasa on Monday.

Ajasa, who turns out for Russian club FC Rostov, reported to camp on Monday to bring the total number of available players to 19 — a figure reduced by a combination of injuries and club refusals.

Absentees pile up

Captain Wilfred Ndidi and Basel defender Victor Akpe are both sidelined through injury and will play no part in the encounter.

Bright Osayi-Samuel, Raphael Onyedika, and Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola were each refused permission by their clubs to make the trip to Russia.

Moses Usor, who is based in Austria and marked his Super Eagles debut with a goal against Madagascar in Uyo on 25 September, was not originally included in the squad. When head coach Éric Chelle subsequently requested his services, his club LASK FC declined to release him for the journey to Russia.

Suleiman Mubarak, called up from Slavia Prague in Czechia, was also unable to travel after his resident permit could not be secured in time.

Final preparations under way

The Super Eagles held their final training session on Monday evening to complete their build-up for the friendly. The full list of players currently in camp is as follows: Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Stanley Nwabali, Kelechi Iheanacho, Emmanuel Fernandez, Benjamin Frederick, Wilfred Igor, Samuel James, Kenneth Igboke, Chibuzor Nwoko, Umar Abubakar, Peter Edokpolor, Abdullahi Bewene, Umar Abdullai, Atata Michael, Aderemi Adeoye, Isaac James, Michael Stephen, and Ibrahim Ajasa.