Kaita Says Osimhen's Absence is a Big Loss for Nigeria

Former Nigerian player Sani Kaita has called Victor Osimhen's absence a "huge loss" for the Super Eagles before their friendly against Russia in October, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Osimhen will not play as he is still recovering from an injury. Kaita recognized how important the striker is but also believes Nigeria has enough talent to handle his absence.

"Of course, Osimhen’s absence is a huge loss for our team. But Nigeria has other high-level players who can replace him, and the coaching staff has a variety of attacking options," Kaita told Championat.

The Super Eagles will meet Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6. This will be their second match with the Russians in 16 months. Their last match in Moscow in June 2025 ended in a 1-1 draw.

Other key Nigerian players will also miss the October friendly. This includes Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Ola Aina.

Kaita thinks Nigeria can manage without these players, but he believes Russia will have the advantage at home. He predicts a 2-1 win for the hosts.

"I’m confident it will be a top-notch match. My prediction for the game is 2-1 for Russia," he said.

Kaita, who won a silver medal with Nigeria at the 2008 Olympic Games, has strong ties to Russian football. He played for Kuban Krasnodar, Lokomotiv Moscow, and Alania Vladikavkaz in his career.

The former midfielder also appreciates the ongoing football relationship between Nigeria and Russia. He said he admires the Russian people and their culture.

"In Nigeria, they understand that the Russian national team is a serious opponent, and we know how high-quality the Russian team is," Kaita said.

This friendly will take place just a week after Nigeria plays Guinea-Bissau in their second 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. It will give head coach Éric Chelle another chance to evaluate his squad.