Fresh off their Unity Cup triumph in London, the Super Eagles will look to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions this year when they face Russia’s Sbornaya at the 78,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow this evening.
This marks the first official senior-level clash between the two nations. While Russia hasn’t played a competitive fixture since February 2022, they’ve remained active through friendlies—most recently thrashing Zambia’s Chipolopolo 5-0 at the VTB Arena on March 25, a result that stretched their winning streak to eight matches.
Nigeria defeated Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on 21st March, were held to a 1-1 draw at home four days later by Zimbabwe in the same series, and then defeated Ghana 2-1 on 28th Maybefore overpowering Jamaica on penalties after a 2-2 draw on 31st May to win the Unity Cup.
While still in the form of that single and mammoth USSR, the Soviet Union hosted the FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U20 World Cup) in 1985. The host nation defeated Nigeria 2-1 in a group phase match in Minsk, but when both teams clashed in the tournament’s third-place match, Nigeria triumphed 3-1 after a penalty shootout following 0-0 in regulation and extra time in Moscow.
Tonight, Franco-Malian coach Eric Chelle will be putting out a squad that will be determined to earn a critical win for Nigeria, in order to sustain the winning mentality built from the Unity Cup tournament, and also set their eyes confidently on an even more critical couple of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches coming up in September.
The Super Eagles, lying fourth in their group, will host Rwanda’s Amavubi in the first week of September, and fly out to Johannesburg four days later to tackle group leaders Bafana Bafana of South Africa in what could be a flaming war.
Injuries and withdrawals have combined to tweak Chelle’s ensemble for this encounter, but the spine of the squad is largely intact, with only the fore missing telling performers, such as reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, the peerless Victor Osimhen and AC Milan of Italy’s Samuel Chukwueze – who was in imperious form in London.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has another opportunity to reign between the sticks, with Igoh Ogbu and Benjamin Fredericks (from the Unity Cup in London) tugging for the rear-guard shirts with captain William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi and Semi Ajayi. A rich midfield cast includes Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika, Christantus Uche, Papa Daniel and Saviour Isaac.
Much will be expected of Simon Moses and Tolu Arokodare in the attack, as Krasnodar FC’s former junior international Olakunle Olusegun hopes fervently for his first senior cap.
The iconic Luzhniki Stadium hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final, in which France defeated Croatia 4-2. During the competition, Russia defeated Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the group phase, and also eliminated Spain 4-3 after penalty shootout in the Round of 16, at the same Luzhniki Stadium.
Today’s encounter will kick off at 8pm Russia time (6pm Nigeria).
