Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has expressed confidence in the young Nigerian players who featured in the team's dramatic 3-3 draw with Russia, saying their performance showed they can compete at senior international level.

Nigeria fielded an experimental squad in Tuesday's friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, with several established players unavailable. The situation gave Chelle an opportunity to assess a number of younger talents, including players who could form part of Nigeria's plans for the 2028 Olympic Games.

Nine players made their Super Eagles debuts during the match, according to the Nigeria Football Federation, as Chelle used the fixture to test his options ahead of future competitions.

The young side showed plenty of character after Nigeria took an early lead through Kelechi Iheanacho before Russia turned the game around. Lechi Sadulaev and Matvey Kislyak scored before half-time, while Aleksey Miranchuk added another goal early in the second half to put the hosts 3-1 ahead.

Nigeria responded strongly in the closing stages. Nineteen-year-old Peter Edokpolor pulled one back in the 78th minute on his senior debut before Akor Adams completed the comeback with a stoppage-time equaliser after a quick attacking move involving Abdullahi Umar.

Speaking after the match, Chelle said the friendly was part of Nigeria's preparations for both the Africa Cup of Nations and the Olympic Games.

The coach also acknowledged the difficulties involved in assembling his preferred squad but said the younger players who were given an opportunity demonstrated that they could be considered for the senior team.

The performances of several of the newcomers provided encouragement for Chelle. Wilfred Igor, Abdullahi Umar and Edokpolor were among those who attracted particular attention for their contributions during the comeback, while other young players also gained valuable senior international experience.

For Edokpolor, the occasion was particularly memorable. The 19-year-old forward came off the bench and scored Nigeria's second goal, immediately giving the Super Eagles renewed belief that they could recover from a two-goal deficit.

Umar also played a key role in the equaliser, providing the final pass for Adams after Nigeria launched a late counter-attack.

Although the draw exposed some defensive weaknesses, the comeback gave Chelle an opportunity to assess the depth available to him beyond Nigeria's more established stars. The coach will now have to determine which of the young players can translate their performances into regular opportunities with the senior side.

With Nigeria continuing preparations for upcoming AFCON commitments and future Olympic plans, Tuesday's performance could prove important for a new generation of Super Eagles hopefuls.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia