Nigeria's senior men's national team will begin their preparations for Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia with their first training session in Nizhny Novgorod on Saturday.

 The Nigerian delegation arrived at Nizhny Novgorod Airport on Friday afternoon and headed to their hotel, where the players were given time to rest and recover from the long journey and jet lag.

 Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to lead the squad’s opening training session at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, marking the start of preparations for the encounter with the hosts.

 The session will allow Chelle to assess the players’ physical condition following their trip while also beginning tactical preparations for a Russian side that will offer a different challenge from Nigeria’s most recent opponents.

 The Super Eagles will be looking to respond positively after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their second Group L fixture of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last Tuesday.

 The result lifted Guinea-Bissau to the top of the group with six points from two matches, while Nigeria sit second with three points. The Super Eagles had opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo.

 Chelle will also have the opportunity to assess other members of his squad, with several key players, including captain Wilfred Ndidi, having withdrawn from the Russia friendly.

 Tuesday’s match is part of Nigeria’s preparations for the remainder of their international calendar and will give the coaching staff another chance to fine-tune the team ahead of the next round of competitive fixtures.

 After the Russia encounter, attention will return to the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, with Tanzania next on Nigeria’s schedule. The two teams are expected to face each other in a double-header in November.

 The Russia friendly therefore provides Chelle with an opportunity to assess his options, work on tactical adjustments and prepare the Super Eagles for the important November qualifiers.