Anebi
Russia manager, Valery Karpin has insisted that Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman’s absence does not make Nigeria weaker.
Russia will host Nigeria in an international friendly at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday.
But the likes of Osimhen and Lookman will not feature in the friendly match.
Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle had omitted the duo alongside Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey from the squad to face Karpin’s side.
“Of course. I repeat, I would like to have both Osimhen and Lookman to test our team against the best players,” Karpin told Komsomolskaya Pravda.
“But their absence certainly does not make Nigeria fundamentally weaker.”
The Super Eagles head to the Russia game after winning the Unity Cup, thanks to a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win against Jamaica, following a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes.
The kick-off time for the match is 6 p.m, Nigerian time.
Russia vs Nigeria: Osimhen, Lookman’s absence doesn’t make Super Eagles weaker – Valery Karpin
