Reims midfielder John Otomewo has been invited by Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle as a replacement for Wilfred Ndidi ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly against Russia on October 6, 2026.
Ndidi was not among the players who arrived in Moscow for the encounter, paving the way for Otomewo to receive a call-up to the national team.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, with the friendly providing Chelle another opportunity to assess his squad.
Russia vs Nigeria
- Date: October 6, 2026
- Time: 6:00 p.m. (WAT)
- Venue: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
Otomewo was not part of the Super Eagles squad that defeated Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo in Nigeria’s opening AFCON 2027 qualifier, a match in which Ndidi featured and captained the team.
Following that victory, Chelle praised his players for their mentality and commitment after they fought back from behind to secure all three points.
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The Russia friendly is expected to give the Nigerian coach another opportunity to assess several young players as he continues to expand the Super Eagles player pool while also building options for future competitions.
The 19-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a strong start to life in France after joining Reims from Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem during the summer transfer window.
Otomewo has featured in all seven of Reims’ Ligue 2 matches this season and has played an important role in the club’s push for promotion back to Ligue 1.
His invitation represents a major opportunity to impress Chelle and stake a claim for a regular place in the Super Eagles setup as Nigeria continues its preparations for future international assignments.
