The men’s national team of Russia will play the Super Eagles of Nigeria in an international friendly on June 6, according to the Russian Football Union (RFU).
RFU announced the fixture in a statement on its website on Thursday.
The date and time of the match have still to be determined, although it is expected to take place in Russia.
There will be two more friendly games for Russia. In March, the squad plays Zambia, and on June 10, they play Belarus.
RFU said it “reached agreements” with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the two other national football bodies to arrange the friendly matches.
However, Russia was banned from football by FIFA and UEFA in 2022 following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
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The decision suspended all Russian national teams and clubs from participating in FIFA and UEFA competitions.
But in 2023, the world football governing body relaxed the sanction to allow Russian U-17 national teams to compete in international competitions.
The youth teams are to play under the name of the ‘Football Union of Russia’ rather than Russia, in the absence of their national flag, national anthem, national-team kit and equipment, and instead playing in neutral colours.
Despite the ban, the Russian men’s national team have been playing non-FIFA-sanctioned friendly matches against non-western countries.
Regarding its actual stance on the friendly declaration made by the Russian FA, NFF has not yet released an official remark. It will be Nigeria’s first senior international football match against Russia if the match is officially sanctioned.
