The Super Eagles must adopt a balanced style of play.
At a crowded Luzhniki Stadium that trembled sometimes as the audience purred, the three-time African champions nevertheless displayed bravery and tenacity by refusing to bow.
Although Chelle acknowledged that the encounter was a little challenging due to the absence of several of his important players, he said that the team would keep improving their playing style and finding balance.
As we get ready for the World Cup qualifying tournament, we are now discussing my team's future.Eric Chelle, the head coach of the Super Eagles, believes his squad will keep improving their style of play and look for balance.
Chelle made the comments at a press conference on Friday night at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium following the game.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, an intriguing friendly encounter in Moscow saw an underperforming Nigerian team hold Russia's in-form Sbornaya to a 1-1 tie.
Stanley Nwabali, the goalie, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, defenders Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey, and strikers Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Samuel Chukwueze did not play.
“We made lots of changes to the squad, and our usual pressing game was a bit difficult because the new players are yet to fully understand how we want to play.
“So, we need to keep working on our playing pattern and try to find balance,” he said.
The Franco-Malian gaffer, however, admitted that the match was a very tough one against a strong opponent.
“Russia has a good team with lots of pressure and technical qualities.
“We did not play well in the first half. We didn’t enforce our pressing game so well.
“But we were better in the second half with our pressing, and that made the difference for us. It was not an easy game.
“When I say the game was not easy, it was because we played against a very good team. They had their chances in the first half, and they took them; we had our chance, but the keeper saved it.
“In the second half, Russia had two chances, and we had one or two, and we scored,” he said.
In the absence of the illustrious forwards, Victor Boniface got another chance to shine.
However, he used excessive force to chest the ball after Bruno Onyemaechi crossed it in the eighth minute, and the Russian defense was quickly exposed.
Ajayi accidentally redirected the ball into his net past Maduka Okoye, the stranded goalkeeper, in the 27th minute.
Viktor Melyokhin fired the ball into the area after he rushed past Bright Osayi-Samuel on the right.
The Eagles, unbowed but on the defensive, kept pounding the ball around, looking for gaps in a tight Russian defense.
The midfield was dominated by Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while the backline was held in check by Bruno Onyemaechi, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel, and captain William Ekong.
Dele-Bashiru waltzed past the defenders and faced the enigmatic Matvei Safonov, giving the Super Eagles the break they needed to tie the score five minutes before recess.
But Safonov diverted the ball over the sticks, winning the battle of the wits.
Just ten minutes after taking Boniface's position in the assault, substitute Tolu Arokodare gave Nigeria the equalizer they needed in the 71st minute.
As the Russian defenders passed among themselves, he decided to chase every ball. When Safonov underhit the ball, the Belgium-based forward leaped forward and slid it into the far corner.
Arokodare scored Nigeria's first goal, and it was just what the country's efforts merited.
Nigeria's 2025 undefeated record was maintained as a result, setting them up for two pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Rwanda in three months.
In the first week of September, the Super Eagles, who are currently in fourth place in their group, will host Amavubi of Rwanda.
The team will then jet over to Johannesburg four days later to challenge the group leaders, Bafana Bafana of South Africa, in what could be a fiery war.
