Friendly: Simon praises Super Eagles newcomers after dramatic draw with Russia

Moses Simon has applauded the performance of the Super Eagles’ emerging players following Nigeria’s impressive 3-3 comeback draw against Russia in Tuesday’s international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.

The Super Eagles found themselves 3-1 down but produced a spirited second-half comeback to secure a share of the spoils against Valery Karpin’s side.

Head coach Eric Chelle used the encounter to hand opportunities to several fringe players, with Benfica youngster Peter Edokpolor and Umar Abubakar making a strong impression.

Edokpolor showcased his quality with a superb finish to score Nigeria’s second goal, while Abubakar played a key role in the late comeback by setting up Akor Adams for the stoppage-time equaliser.

Simon believes the performances of the young players are a sign of a promising future for the national team.

“A tough atmosphere, a demanding test, but these young players stood tall and showed real character to earn a commendable draw,” Simon wrote on X.

“The talent, courage and composure on display offer plenty of reasons to believe in a brighter and greater future for this team.

“The future is looking good for our country.”