The Super Eagles will face Russia at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on October 6, 2026, in their second meeting in 16 months. Nigeria’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodatasports, confirmed the fixture, which the Nigeria Football Federation also announced on Tuesday.
The previous encounter ended 1-1 at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on June 6, 2025. Russia went ahead after Semi Ajayi scored an own goal, while Tolu Arokodare brought Nigeria level in the second half.
The new fixture falls one week after Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea-Bissau in Bissau on September 29. Four days earlier, the Super Eagles will begin their Group C campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Nigeria’s recent meetings with European opposition have produced a draw and a defeat. The team drew 2-2 with Poland in Warsaw before losing 2-1 to Portugal in Meira, after retaining the Afro-Caribbean Unity Cup in London.
The 44,000-capacity Nizhny Novgorod Stadium hosted matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Russia played there again in June 2019, beating Cyprus 1-0 in a Euro 2020 qualifying match.
FIFA currently ranks Nigeria 26th in the world and Russia 35th. The Russian national team is known by the nickname “Our Boys”.
