Nigeria fights back to draw with Russia in thrilling match

A much-changed Nigeria team came from behind twice to end 3-3 with Russia in an exciting international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday. This match gave Eric Chelle’s players a good way to finish off a mixed international break.

The draw followed complaints about the Super Eagles after their surprising 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in their last match, a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The friendly gave Chelle a chance to end the window positively against a Russian team that just beat Namibia 6-0 over the weekend.

Chelle gave nine players their debuts in a lineup meant to test the squad's depth. Only six starters, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Abdullahi Bewene, and Aderemi Adeoye, had played for the three-time African champions before.

After more than 16 months away from the national team, Iheanacho put Nigeria ahead early in the 11th minute. He received a pass from Bewene at the edge of the box and fired a left-footed shot into the top corner for his 15th international goal.

Though Nigeria started well, the inexperienced defense soon faltered. Russia equalized through Lechi Sadulaev in the 30th minute, and Matvey Kislyak put the hosts ahead just before halftime.

Aleksey Miranchuk increased Russia’s lead to 3-1 nine minutes into the second half. This pushed Chelle to make changes in search of a comeback. The substitutions worked right away.

Debutant Peter Edokpolor, just 19 years old, broke through the Russian defense and scored an unstoppable shot in the 78th minute. He had almost been preceded by fellow substitute Umar Abdullahi, who nearly scored five minutes earlier.

With the Super Eagles gaining momentum, Chelle brought on Vince Osuji for Chibuzo Nwoko to strengthen the midfield as Nigeria aimed for an equalizer.

The pressure finally paid off in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Fernandez’s long header sparked a quick counter-attack, ending with Abdullahi passing to substitute Akor Adams, who scored a dramatic equalizer in the 94th minute.

Before the match, Adams revealed that Chelle asked for a win from his reshuffled squad, even without key players like captain Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Chelle will be encouraged by the fighting spirit his young side showed to earn a point, even if they did not get a win.

Next, Nigeria will focus on competitive football. The Super Eagles are set to face Tanzania in a double-header in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers in November.