The striker was a second-half substitute and scorer in the exciting match at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on Friday.

The Super Eagles were fresh from their Unity Cup triumph, where they defeated Ghana and Jamaica in London.

However, the exodus of key players from camp forced Chelle to shuffle the pack against Russia, which last played competitive football in 2022 before FIFA banned the country over the invasion of Ukraine.

Okoye replaced Stanley Nwabali, who returned to Nigeria for the burial rites of his late parents.

Victor Boniface led an attack that had Moses Simon and Fisayo Dele Basiru. Chrisantus Uche got his first-ever start with the Eagles and paired with Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika in midfield.

The Russians were all over the Eagles throughout the first quarter of the game. The pressure paid off for the home team in the 27th minute after Andrei Mostovoy outpaced Bright Osayi-Samuel down the Nigerian right before fizzing a cross into the box. The ball caught Semi Ajayi unaware and bounced off him into the net.

Nigeria would not get a shot on target until two minutes before half-time. Boniface set Dele-Bashiru on his way with a simple pass, and the Lazio midfielder motored into the Russian goal area, but Matvei Safonov stopped his strike.

In the quest for a solution up front, Chelle brought Arokodare on for Boniface, and before long, there was respite. Safonov made a mess of his clearance from the back, and Arokodare pounced on it. The striker toe-poked the strike into the net with almost nonchalant coolness.