By Korede James
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Russia in an international friendly match on June 6, the Russian Football Union announced in a statement on Thursday, with the venue yet to be decided.
According to the football body, the encounter is one of three friendlies lined up for Russia’s senior men’s national team, the others being against Zambia and Belarus.
“The Russian Football Union has reached agreements with the football federations of Zambia, Nigeria and Belarus to hold friendly matches in the coming FIFA windows,” the body stated.
“In March, Valery Karpin’s team will play against Zambia. The game will be held in Moscow, the exact time and place of the meeting will be announced later.
“On June 6, the Russian national team will play a home match against Nigeria, and on June 10, they will play away against the national team of Belarus. The venues and start times of the matches will be announced later.”
This will be the first-ever meeting between the senior national teams of Nigeria and Russia, although there have been several clashes at age-grade levels.
At the 1983 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Mexico, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria pipped the Soviet Union, which Russia was then a part of, 1-0 in their opening group tie.
The two countries clashed twice at the 1985 U-20 World Cup in Russia.
While the Flying Eagles lost the group stage contest 2-1, they avenged the defeat in the third-placed playoff, winning 3-1 on penalties after regulation time and extra-time ended 0-0.
In the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Canada, Russia won 4-2 via a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Also, in an epic quarter-final battle at the 1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, the Flying Eagles came from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 and went on to win 5-3 on penalties.
On February 28, 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and in accordance with a “recommendation” by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIFA and UEFA suspended the participation of Russia in their competitions.
The Russian Football Union unsuccessfully appealed the bans to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which upheld the bans.
Since then, they have played several friendlies against non-Western countries.
Their last fixture was a 4-0 win against Syria on November, 19, 2024.
