Bright Osayi-Samuel wearing the white Super Eagles Nigeria national team jersey with number 5 during a match
Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi Samuel present at the Uyo sports stadium


Bright Osayi-Samuel has withdrawn from Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad for the international friendly against Russia. 

The defender becomes the third established player to pull out ahead of the match scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. 

The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed the latest absence on October 3 as the team prepared in Russia following its arrival in Moscow the previous day.

The Super Eagles’ three-game international window closes with this exhibition fixture. The squad landed in Russia on Friday after a difficult 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau earlier in the window. 

A core group of senior players remains available, and the technical staff is expected to use the match to assess several newer faces alongside more experienced options.