PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
The Russian Football Union (RFU) has announced that the country’s men’s national team will face off against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in an international friendly on June 6.
This historic encounter, scheduled to take place in Russia, will mark the first-ever meeting between the two nations at the senior level of international football.
According to the RFU, the match is part of a series of friendly fixtures, which also include games against Zambia in March and Belarus on June 10.
The RFU stated that it has “reached agreements” with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the other national football bodies involved to arrange the friendly matches.
However, it’s worth noting that Russia is currently serving a ban from FIFA and UEFA competitions, imposed in 2022 following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Although the ban has been partially relaxed to allow Russian U-17 teams to compete in international competitions, the men’s national team has been playing non-FIFA-sanctioned friendly matches against non-western countries.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has yet to issue an official statement on the friendly announcement by the Russian FA.
If the match becomes official, it will be a significant encounter for both teams, with Russia looking to test its mettle against a strong African opponent and Nigeria seeking to make a statement on the international stage.
As Jairo Pachon, the manager in charge of organizing matches for the Nigerian Football Federation, noted, “Our representatives are working with the RFU to organize a friendly match between the adult national teams of Russia and Nigeria in 2025. This match is absolutely possible”.
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