Super Eagles to Face Russia in October 2026 Friendly

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are scheduled to play against Russia in an international friendly match on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. This match marks a continuation of their competitive history, following their last meeting on June 6, 2025, at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

In that match, Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi inadvertently scored an own goal, giving Russia the lead, before Tolu Arokodare equalized for Nigeria in the second half. The upcoming friendly will take place during a busy period for Nigeria, as FIFA has compressed the September and October international breaks into a three-week window.

Nigeria's AFCON qualification campaign will commence shortly before this match, starting on September 25, 2026, against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, followed by a match against Guinea Bissau four days later.