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

Moses Simon has commended the performance of the Super Eagles' young players following Nigeria's dramatic 3-3 draw against Russia in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday. The Super Eagles trailed 3-1 before mounting a spirited second-half comeback to share the spoils with Valery Karpin's side. Head coach Eric Chelle utilized the match to provide playing time to several bench players, with Benfica prospect Peter Edokpolor and Umar Abubakar leaving a lasting impression.

Edokpolor scored Nigeria's second goal with a superb finish, while Abubakar played a crucial role in the late comeback by setting up Akor Adams for the stoppage-time equalizer. Simon believes the young players' performances are a testament to 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."