The Russian Football Union (RFU) has announced a friendly match against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on June 6, despite FIFA’s ongoing ban on Russia. The NFF has not confirmed its involvement, sparking controversy. If played, this would be the first senior-level meeting between Nigeria and Russia.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) has announced that its national team will play a friendly match against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on June 6, despite the ongoing FIFA ban on Russian teams.
In a statement released on Thursday, RFU confirmed that arrangements had been made with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the fixture, though the time and venue remain undecided. Russia also has upcoming friendlies against Zambia in March and Belarus on June 10.
Russia has been banned from all FIFA and UEFA competitions since 2022 due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. While FIFA later allowed Russia’s U-17 teams to compete under strict conditions—without their flag, anthem, or national identity—the senior team remains excluded from official tournaments.
Since the ban, Russia has played friendly matches against countries outside the Western bloc, organizing non-FIFA-sanctioned games. However, the decision to play Nigeria has sparked controversy, as FIFA’s stance on Russia remains unchanged.
The NFF has not yet released an official statement on the match, leaving uncertainty about whether the fixture will proceed as planned. If confirmed, this would be the first-ever meeting between Nigeria and Russia at the senior international level.
Football analysts and fans are divided on the issue, with some questioning the NFF’s involvement in the friendly, while others see it as an opportunity for Nigeria to test its squad ahead of future competitions.
