The Russia Football Union (RFU) has made a surprising move to organize a friendly match with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, despite being banned by FIFA from participating in international football matches.
According to a statement on the RFU’s official website, the match is scheduled to take place in Russia in the middle of this year.
The RFU claims to have reached an agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to host the Super Eagles.
Russia has been banned from international football competitions since invading Ukraine, but it appears the RFU is exploring ways to engage in friendly matches.
The proposed match with Nigeria is seen as an opportunity for Russia to return to international football, albeit in a limited capacity.
For the Super Eagles, the friendly match could serve as valuable preparation for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. With several tough matches on the horizon, the match against Russia could provide a useful test for coach Eric Chelle’s team.
Interestingly, Russia is also reportedly planning a friendly match against Zambia’s Chipolopolo in June. It remains to be seen whether these matches will materialize, given Russia’s current FIFA ban.
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