Coach Eric Chelle says Nigeria are determined to return to winning ways when they face Russia in Tuesday’s friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.

The Super Eagles head into the encounter seeking a response following their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Chelle will be without several regular players, including injured captain Wilfred Ndidi and Victory Akpe, while others were not released by their clubs.

Moses Usor was called up but instructed by LASK not to travel, while Suleiman Mubarak missed the trip due to residence permit issues.

Regardless, the Franco-Malian insists his players are highly motivated and ready to deliver a strong performance against the Europeans.

“Some clubs don’t want the players to come, so we have to manage the situation. We lost our last game, and the expectation for this game is to give the new players the opportunity to show what they can do,” Chelle told media.

“We are motivated. The players want to win, and they want to give their best for the jersey and the country.

“This is not the same team. We lost the game against Guinea-Bissau because our intensity was not good. It’s going to be a different game.”

Carlos Alcaraz qualified for the semi-finals of the Japan Open on Sunday after an ailing Denis Shapovalov retired to hand the world number three a 7-6 (7/3), 2-1 victory.

His Canadian opponent was forced to withdraw after suffering an injury to his upper right thigh in the first game of the second set.

Defending champion Alcaraz will play fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar for a place in the final after the world number 64 ended the impressive run of 86th-ranked Kyrian Jacquet of France.

The match was hard-fought until Shapovalov’s retirement, with Alcaraz troubled by the variety of his game as the world number 46 mixed deep shots with drop shots, and power with spin.


Alcaraz, who saved four set points against Matteo Arnaldi on Saturday, salvaged another here at 5-4 down and went on to seal the tie-break with a passing shot before Shapovalov’s injury.

The Australian Open champion is playing only his third event since returning from a months-long wrist injury, having reached the quarter-finals of the US Open last month.

Later on Sunday, Valentin Vacherot upset France’s Arthur Fils 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to set up a semi-final against either Jiri Lehecka or Adolfo Vallejo.

Fils seemed to be making short work of the big-serving world number 18 when he earned two set points at 5-3.

But he then caved in, losing the next four games to hand Vacherot the opener on a superb down-the-line return.

Fils forced a deciding set after an intense battle, pumping his fist and rallying the crowd, but eventually succumbed in a tight two-hour, 20-minute match.

Portugal playmaker Bruno Fernandes said Cristiano Ronaldo remains the country’s greatest footballing icon despite walking out on the squad this week after finding out he would not start a match.

The 41-year-old superstar said Wednesday he had left the team after coach Jorge Jesus said Ronaldo would not start against Denmark in the Nations League, a match Portugal won 4-2 without him.

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker Ronaldo’s future with the national team, for whom he is the leading goalscorer and most capped player, is in doubt after his walkout.

“Regarding Cristiano, I had a conversation with him, and what I told him, and what I repeat here, is this – the most important thing is that, regardless of what happens, Cristiano Ronaldo will never cease to be the greatest symbol of our national team, of our football, and of the country, for what he has done not only in Portugal but throughout the world,” Fernandes told reporters Saturday.

Manchester United midfielder Fernandes called for unity after a tumultuous few days in which Portugal fans’ opinions have been split over Ronaldo’s decision.


“He has a reserved place not only among the best of all time, but also in the hearts of all Portuguese people, and the most important thing is that we stop dividing things,” said Fernandes.

“There are no divisions in the national team, it is one and will remain so, despite any noise that may come from outside…

“We are outside of this controversy, but what I ask is that the country does not divide itself, does not make choices, that it respects all sides, but, at the same time, Cris is and will be the biggest icon of our national team, he deserves everyone’s respect, regardless of who likes him more or (who likes him) less.”