AFCON 2025
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that the Super Eagles will face Russia in an international friendly on Tuesday, October 6, at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. The NFF announced the fixture through its official X handle on Tuesday morning, describing the game as the second meeting between both nations in 16 months.
Nigeria’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodatasports, arranged the fixture. The NFF confirmed his role in a statement, saying the fixture has been confirmed by Nigeria’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodatasports.
The Super Eagles and Russia last squared off on June 6, 2025, at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, where the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. Russia took the lead in the first half after Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi turned the ball into his own net, but Tolu Arokodare restored parity for the Super Eagles after the break. Russia dominated possession in that encounter, controlling 58 percent of the ball and firing 10 shots to Nigeria’s six.
The Nizhny Novgorod fixture arrives at a demanding point on Nigeria’s calendar. Eric Chelle’s side opens its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on September 25, before traveling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau four days later. The Russia friendly then follows exactly a week after that qualifier, giving Chelle a chance to assess his squad and give opportunities to new players in the squad to justify future invitations.
The Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, a 44,000-capacity venue built for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, will host Russia for only the second time in a senior international. The ground previously staged Russia’s 1-0 win over Cyprus in a Euro 2020 qualifier in June 2019. Nigeria currently sits 26th in the FIFA world rankings, nine places above 35th-ranked Russia.
Russia remains suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a ban that blocks the country’s teams from official tournaments but does not stop them from arranging friendlies. The Super Eagles have kept busy since missing out on the 2026 World Cup, retaining the Unity Cup in London, drawing 2-2 with Poland in Warsaw and falling 2-1 to Portugal on the road.
Nigeria will treat the October date as another measuring stick against European opposition before the qualifying campaign intensifies. No kickoff time has been announced for the fixture.
