Super Eagles to play friendly game against Russian national team in June this year

NIGERIA'S Super Eagles are scheduled to play a friendly match against Russia's national team in June this year in what will mark the European giant's long-awaited return to the international scene after three years in the wilderness.

In 2022, Russia invaded its neighbour Ukraine and as a result was banished from all international sporting competitions, including the Fifa World Cup. Due to the ban, Russia was prevented from playing friendlies against Fifa member countries like Nigeria as part of a series of punitive sanctions.

However, in what appears to be a thawing of the ban, Russia is now being permitted to gradually return to the fold. In June this year, the Russian national team will play the Super Eagles in Moscow according to the Russian Football Union (RFU).

An RFU spokesman said: "In March, the team of Valery Karpin will play against Zambia and the game will be held in Moscow. On June 6, the Russian national team will play a home match against Nigeria and on June 10 will play away against the national team of Belarus."

While the venue for the match has not yet been confirmed, it is expected to take place in Moscow, the Russian capital. Last December, Russia's sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev said that the football federations of Russia and Turkey were in talks to hold a friendly football match in 2025.

In mid-January, the RFU published its calendar of sporting events for 2025. According to the calendar, the Russian national football squad will play 10 friendlies this year, eight of them at home, with the Nigeria game being one of them.