AFCON 2025
Anatoly Byshovets, the former head coach of the Russian national men’s football team, says the Super Eagles of Nigeria are like the African version of the German national team, Die Mannschaft.
Byshovets added that the three-time African champions remind him of former World champions, Germany, given their physicality and relentless style of football.
The former head coach made these remarks with Sport-Express ahead of the anticipated friendly match between Russia and Nigeria at the iconic Luzhniki stadium on Friday.
Speaking ahead of the match, Byshovets says the friendly against Nigeria will give Russia valuable experience.
I can say as a coach who led the USSR against Nigeria that this is a team that is associated with the German team in Europe, only in an African version.
They play power football, and the winner is the one who wins in single combats – there is such an English proverb.
I think such experience will be useful for our players. The work done by Karpin is thankless in terms of waiting for official matches.
The Super Eagles will be without several key players, including reigning African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Calvin Basssey, Wilfred Ndidi, among others as they take on Russia tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Russia has lined up a strong squad to face the three-time African champions, with players drawn predominantly from the Russian Premier League and a few outside of the league.
Russia are currently on an eight-game winning streak with victories over Cuba (8–0), Serbia (4–0), Belarus (4–0), Vietnam (3–0), Brunei (11–0), Syria (4–0), Grenada (5–0) and Zambia (5–0).
The Luzhniki Stadium – venue of the 2018 FIFA World Cup final will host the highly anticipated match tomorrow as Eric Chelle looks to consolidate his Unity Cup triumph with a win.
