NFF confirms October friendly game against Russia
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be involved in an international friendly game against Russia set to be played in the city of Nizhny Novgorod on October 6.
The clash at the 44,000 – capacity Nizhny Novgorod Stadium will hold exactly a week after the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Day 2 qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Guinea Bissau’s ‘Wild Dogs’ in the city of Bissau on Tuesday, 29th September.
Nigeria and their Russian counterparts will clash for the second time in 16 months when both teams face off in the friendly inside the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium as confirmed by Nigeria’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodatasports.
Russia, sidelined from official competition since 2026, relies on such games to stay sharp, with both teams ranked close Nigeria at 26th and Russia at 35th in FIFA standings.
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The friendly game will be the second meeting both teams in 16 months after the first encounter ended in a 1-1 draw in inside Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on 6th June 2025 – few days after the Super Eagles retained the Afro-Caribbean Unity Cup Football Tournament trophy in London.
An own goal by defender Semi Ajayi in the first half put the hosts in front but the Super Eagles of Nigeria levelled in the second half through striker Tolu Arokodare.
Despite failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico in the summer, the Super Eagles retained the Unity Cup in London, playing a 2-2 draw with Poland in Warsaw and narrowly lost 1-2 to Portugal in Meira.
