Russia announces friendly match with Nigeria amid FIFA ban

The Russian Football Union (RFU) has announced plans to play Nigeria’s Super Eagles in an international friendly slated for June 6, 2025.

RFU, in a statement on its website on Thursday, disclosed that the international friendly will be played in Russia with time and match venue still undecided.

The friendly is one of many matches lined up to keep the Nashi Parni (Our Boys) in top shape after being banned by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

FIFA later 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 without the Russian flag, national anthem, national-team kit, and equipment but will play in neutral colours.

Amid the ban, the Russian men’s national team has been playing non-FIFA-sanctioned friendly matches against non-western countries.

The scheduled friendly against Nigeria will be the first game between both nations at the senior level of international football if it takes place.

Russia will also engage Chipolopolo of Zambia next month while Belarus will be next on the card on June 10.

RFU said it “reached agreements” with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the two other national football bodies to arrange the friendly matches.”