Russia's Valery Kechinov insists Super Eagles are a threat despite missing stars

The Super Eagles suffered the setback in their second match of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, while their preparations have also been disrupted by the absence of several key players. Wilfred Ndidi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Raphael Onyedika have all withdrawn from the squad for different reasons.

However, former Spartak Moscow midfielder Valery Kechinov believes Russia should not underestimate their opponents, insisting Nigeria still possess enough quality in their second-string squad to provide a stern test.

Kechinov also dismissed the prospect of Russia producing another emphatic victory after they swept aside Namibia 6-0 on Saturday.

He expects the encounter with Nigeria to be a far more demanding contest, despite the West Africans being without some of their leading players.

The Super Eagles continue to attract considerable attention despite missing out on World Cup qualification, and Kechinov believes that underlines the quality and reputation they retain.

"It's unlikely we'll see a rout. Their star players will likely be missing, but Nigeria still has a strong second string," Kechinov said.

"They're a team with a lot of buzz. They may have missed the World Cup, but they're a solid team. They'll offer us a completely different kind of resistance."