The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Russia in an international friendly on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, as part of their preparations for the ongoing international football calendar.
The match will be played at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Russia, coming exactly one week after Nigeria’s second 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria will begin their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign at home against Madagascar on Friday, September 25, before travelling to Bissau to face the Wild Dogs of Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29.
The Russia friendly will therefore provide head coach Eric Chelle with another opportunity to assess his squad against European opposition shortly after the two competitive qualifiers.
The Super Eagles and Russia have already met recently, playing a 1-1 draw in Moscow on June 6, 2025.
Russia took the lead after Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi scored an own goal in the first half. Nigeria later equalised through striker Tolu Arokodare.
The upcoming meeting will give both teams another opportunity to test their squads, with Nigeria currently ranked 26th in the FIFA world rankings, while Russia sit 35th.
For Chelle, the timing of the fixture could allow him to evaluate players and combinations after the opening AFCON qualifying matches.
Nigeria’s immediate focus, however, will be on securing a strong start to their qualification campaign against Madagascar before the trip to Guinea-Bissau.
The Super Eagles will then travel to Russia for the October 6 friendly as they continue preparations for their remaining international commitments.
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