A young and experimental Nigeria side pulled back a two-goal deficit to claim a 3-3 draw with Russia in an international friendly match in Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday.
Kelechi Iheanacho made a goalscoring return to the national team, finding the net with about 10 minutes played to put Nigeria in front.
After Russia raced to 3-1 with goals from Lechi Sadulaev, Matvey Kislyak and Aleksey Miranchuk, Peter Edokpolor cut the lead to 3-2. In doing so, he joined a growing list of debutants to score under Eric Chelle, before Akor Adams, in as a substitute, tied the game in stoppage time.
Following a poor performance against Guinea-Bissau in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, Nigeria coach Eric Chelle was looking for a reaction from his team, even though the majority of the players in this squad were not involved in that game.
Chellle handed international debuts to five players in a heavily-changed lineup which contained just six players with previous international experience. Four of those - Benjamin Fredrick, Abdullahi Bewene, Emmanuel Fernandez and Adeoye - had just 13 appearances among them.
Despite the lack of experience, it was Nigeria who drew first blood. Latching onto a short pass on the edge of the penalty area from Bewene, Iheanacho fired a left-footed drive into the bottom corner to claim his 15th international goal.
Defensive errors by Nigeria, forced by intense Russia pressure, saw the hosts fight their way back into the game, and they levelled after picking the pocket of Fernandez to beat debuting goalkeeper Samuel James, before taking a 2-1 lead into the interval.
Nine minutes into the second half, Russia extended their advantage to 3-1 and looked to be coasting to victory.
That is, until Chelle threw on his substitutions, who injected immediate urgency into Nigeria's attack. Substitute Umar Abdullahi came close to pulling one back in the 73rd minute after intercepting high up the pitch following strong work from Isaac James.
Five minutes later, 19-year-old debutant Peter Edokpolor made an instant impact off the bench. The youngster drove aggressively through the Russian defense and turned his man inside out before firing off a strike that took a slight deflection and sailed past the goalkeeper to make it 3-2 with about 12 minutes to play.
Substitute Umar was back again to tee up Adams for the third after some redemption work by Fernandez.
Chelle avoids back-to-back defeats
Since taking over as Nigeria coach, Chelle has now accumulated a record of 17 wins, 10 draws and three losses.
Enduring an unexpectedly big defeat to Guinea-Bissau in AFCON qualifying meant the coach was in danger of back-to-back losses at the helm of Nigeria's Super Eagles.
And with a few minutes to go, it looked like that would be the case. Before the game, Chelle had called for intensity and aggression from his players, and they showed immense grit and character to fight back, keep going and eventually get the goals that avoided that unwanted statistic.
The result not only shows the strength in depth of Chelle's squad, it is also a reflection of their determination not to lose, especially when the conditions are right. And it makes Chelle's numbers even more pleasing to the eye.
He has gone undefeated in 27 of 30 matches, amounting to 90 percent of matches without defeat, and an impressive 56.7 percent win rate. His only defeats so far in regulation time are to Egypt by 2-1, Portugal by the same score and Guinea-Bissau 3-0. Only the Guinea-Bissau loss has come in a competitive fixture.
More debutants join the list
Going into this game, Chelle had handed debuts to 32 players, level with Gernot Rohr and two more than Stephen Keshi in second place.
With nine players making their first appearance for Nigeria against Russia, that took his total to 41. The Malian is now averaging about two new players a month for the national team as coach.
That is a remarkable record.
More than that, however, is the impact those debutant are making. Over the course of this window, George Ilhenikena, Moses Usor and Peter Edokpolor have scored on their debuts. This adds to other players who have made instant impacts on their first appearance, including Femi Azeez, who scored a brace on his first appearance.
More to the point, whether by design or circumstance, Chelle's debutants have mostly skewed under the age of 23. In the current squad, the average age is 22.3, in what appears to be a clear sign that the coach is building towards the future, with many of Nigeria's current top and active stars trending towards the other side of 30.
Where are the gaps?
When this squad was named, it was clear that the objective was to run the rule over players with potential to fill some of the holes in the Super Eagles' balance.
A key area of need is central midfield, where captain Wilfred Ndidi's powers not only appear to be waning, but injuries have also been taking their toll. Chelle's midfield diamond tactics also require players with technical skills who also possess an engine. Some of the Super Eagles' biggest issues, especially in recent games, have come from being overrun in midfield.
The relative youth and inexperience of the players on display against Russia meant that search will continue, although the players on display showed some promise. Development and continued exposure will be important.
Then there are the fullback positions. Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel occupy the top two spots in the depth chart, but after watching Bewene in the three games he has played so far, especially against Russia, they should be looking over their shoulders.
Leftback was even clearer. Isaac James was a welcome breath of fresh air in a position that has been begging for depth. Zaidu Sanusi may just have been overtaken on the depth chart, and Bruno Onyemaechi should be concerned.
And then there are the Umars. What a pair the brothers are proving to be. With Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and others, the wide forward roles may not look like needing an immediate refresh, but there is nothing like competition, and Abdullahi Umar knows this.
His running, ability to take on players and goal threat were all on display. Even after he saw his first effort saved when he turned his marker this way and that, he returned with more trickery to set up Adams for the third goal.
Frederick returns like he never left
It is arguable that if Benjamin Fredrick had been at AFCON, Nigeria probably would have won it. Not only is he an outstanding centreback, he is just as excellent at right fullback. Against Russia, he was deployed in central defense alongside Emmanuel Fernandez and the young man took command. His read on the play, his timing on challenges and the leadership he brought to the back four was superb.
Going forward, it may well be a question of who will play alongside Fredrick in Nigeria's central defence rather than the other way round. That is how complete a performance the young man put in against Russia and has done in every game he has played for Nigeria.
The question now for Chelle is which of Calvin Bassey or Semi Ajayi makes way for him. That answer does not bode well for the latter.
Has Iheanacho won his place back?
This is a tough question. Kelechi Iheanacho did what Kelechi Iheanacho does. He got himself into a good pocket of space, saw the tiniest of openings, and without any back lift, unleashed a ferocious effort that even the Russian goalkeeper could be seen telling his coach he never even saw.
That is typical Iheanacho. When he is in form and fit, he can conjure magic like that from absolutely nothing. And right now, he is in form in Turkey, irrespective of the division.
But when he is not, he just tends to take up space. Chelle was right to put him on the B squad and make him work his way back. Overall, it was the kind of performance that gives the coach something to think about. The question is whether that is enough to get him back into the main squad, and that is a nuanced question.
With the new players showing the hunger, energy and intensity that Chelle wants from his lads, it is doubtful if Iheanacho has enough of that to be a major part of the Super Eagles. However, in games where the team need to unlock defences from range, whether it be snap shots like the one he took against Russia, or set pieces, Iheanacho is your man.
Chelle will have to decide if that upside he brings is enough of a gamechanger to justify leaving out a youngster who could possibly bring the sort of intensity that Iheanacho's body may no longer quite be capable of, even if his spirit is willing.
Umar brothers make Nigerian football history
Abubakar Umar and Abdullahi Umar also made a little piece of Nigerian football history against Russia, becoming the first set of brothers to make their senior international debuts for Nigeria on the same day and in the same match.
Both came off the bench in the second half, with Abdullahi making an immediate impression and eventually setting up Akor Adams for the stoppage-time equalizer.
In doing so, the Umars joined an exclusive club of brothers to have represented Nigeria at senior international level.
It is a list that includes Andrew and Aloysius Atuegbu, Emmanuel and Patrick Okala, Segun and Wole Odegbami, Monday and Augustine Eguavoen, Emmanuel and Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Sunday and Azubuike Oliseh, Nwankwo and Christopher Kanu, Tijani and Haruna Babangida, John and Peter Utaka, and Kalu and Ikechukwu Uche.