By Emeka Dennar
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Russia for the second time in 16 months when both countries meet in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The fixture was confirmed by Nigeria’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sports.
The two nations last met on June 6, 2025, at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, where they played out a 1-1 draw just days after Nigeria successfully defended the Afro-Caribbean Unity Cup title in London.
Russia took the lead in that game through a first-half own goal by Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi, but striker Tolu Arokodare equalised after the break to earn the Super Eagles a draw.
Although Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the team produced several encouraging performances. The Super Eagles retained the Unity Cup, secured a respectable 2-2 draw against Poland in Warsaw, and suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Portugal in Meira.
The upcoming match will take place at the 44,000-capacity Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, one of the venues used during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. It will be only Russia’s second match at the stadium, having beaten Cyprus 1-0 there in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier in June 2019.
Nigeria currently occupies 26th place in the FIFA world rankings, while Russia is ranked 35th.
The friendly will come exactly one week after Nigeria’s second match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau in Bissau on September 29. Before that, the Super Eagles will begin their AFCON qualifying campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on September 25.
