Nigeria’s Super Eagles will meet Russia in an international friendly at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on October 6.
Nigeria FIFA Match Agent Jairo Pachon, of Eurodatasports, confirmed the fixture on Tuesday. It will be the countries’ second encounter within a 16-month period.
Previous meeting
- The teams last faced each other in a friendly at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on June 6, 2025.
- Russia moved in front before half-time when Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi scored an own goal.
- Tolu Arokodare equalised for the Super Eagles after the interval, ensuring the match finished 1-1.
The game followed Nigeria’s successful defence of the Afro-Caribbean Unity Cup Football Tournament title in London. Despite failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Nigeria retained the trophy.
Afterwards, the Super Eagles drew 2-2 with Poland in Warsaw and then lost narrowly, 2-1, to Portugal in Meira.
Venue and rankings
The 44,000-seat Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, one of the grounds used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, will host Russia’s second senior international there.
Russia’s first international at the stadium ended in a 1-0 victory over Cyprus in June 2019 during UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying.
Nigeria currently sit 26th in the FIFA world rankings, while Russia, whose team is known as “Our Boys”, are 35th.
AFCON qualifying schedule
The friendly is set to take place seven days after Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau.
- Nigeria are due to visit Bissau on September 29 to play Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs.
- Four days before that fixture, the Super Eagles will open their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign at home against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
