AFCON 2025
The Russian Football Union (RFU) has announced plans for an international friendly match between Russia and Nigeria’s Super Eagles, scheduled for June 6, 2025.
The match is set to take place at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow. This fixture is part of Russia’s efforts to maintain competitive play despite being banned from FIFA and UEFA competitions since 2022 due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
While FIFA relaxed sanctions in 2023 to allow Russian U-17 teams to participate in international tournaments under neutral conditions, the senior national team remains excluded from official competitions.
Despite these concerns, the RFU has confirmed the fixture, along with matches against Zambia in March and Belarus on June 10, as part of their strategy to keep the national team active.
It will mark the first-ever senior-level encounter between Nigeria and Russia, offering both teams an opportunity to assess their squads ahead of upcoming competitions.
The Super Eagles will take part in the Unity Cup invitational tournament in London in May before the clash with Russia.
