Reims midfielder John Otomewo has received a late invitation to the Super Eagles squad as head coach Éric Chelle names the youngster as a replacement for Wilfred Ndidi ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly against Russia on October 6.
Sports247 reports that Ndidi will miss the encounter after featuring for Nigeria in the recent 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Otomewo’s invitation represents another opportunity for Chelle to assess emerging talents as he continues to broaden his options within the national team setup.
The 19-year-old midfielder has made an encouraging start to his career in France following his summer move to Reims from Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem.
Since his arrival, Otomewo has featured in all seven of Reims’ Ligue 2 matches this season, establishing himself as an important member of the squad as the club targets promotion back to Ligue 1.
His consistent involvement at club level has now earned him recognition from the Super Eagles coaching staff, with Chelle handing the youngster an opportunity to train and compete alongside more experienced members of Nigeria’s senior national team.
The Russia friendly is expected to provide Chelle with valuable room to experiment with his squad, particularly as he continues to identify players capable of strengthening Nigeria’s options for future international assignments.
Beyond the immediate senior-team assignment, the match could also serve as part of the broader process of developing Nigeria’s next generation of international players ahead of the country’s U23 Olympic qualifying campaign.
For Otomewo, the invitation provides a significant platform to impress the Super Eagles coaching crew and demonstrate that he can compete at international level.
His regular involvement for Reims this season, coupled with his progression since moving to France, has placed him in a position to make his first major impression on the national-team stage.
With Nigeria set to face Russia on October 6, attention will now turn to how Chelle utilises his young midfield option and whether Otomewo can seize the opportunity to stake an early claim within the Super Eagles setup.
