Nigeria and Russia are set to meet again in an international friendly at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, with the fixture confirmed by Nigeria FIFA Match Agent Jairo Pachon of Eurodatasports.
Previous meeting
- The two nations last encountered each other at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on 6 June 2025, shortly after Nigeria’s Super Eagles successfully defended their Afro-Caribbean Unity Cup title in London.
- Russia took the lead before half-time when Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi turned the ball into his own net.
- The Super Eagles restored parity after the interval, with Tolu Arokodare scoring to secure a 1-1 draw.
Recent record and venue
Although Nigeria missed out on the FIFA World Cup finals staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico during the summer, the team went on to retain the Unity Cup in London. The Super Eagles also earned a 2-2 draw against Poland in Warsaw before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat by Portugal in Meira.
The 44,000-seat Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, one of the venues used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, will host Russia for only the second time. The country’s previous fixture there ended in a 1-0 victory over Cyprus in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier in June 2019.
Nigeria sit 26th in the FIFA world rankings, while Russia’s “Our Boys” are placed 35th.
2027 AFCON schedule
- The Russia friendly is scheduled seven days after Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs in Bissau on Tuesday, 29 September.
- Four days before that match, Nigeria will open their qualifying campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
