Russia have sent an ominous message to Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly meeting with Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 2018 World Cup hosts tore Namibia apart 6-0 in Yekaterinburg after turning a cagey first half into a second-half avalanche on Saturday.
Valery Karpin’s side struck on 37 minutes when Lechi Sadulaev collected Artyom Karpukas’ pass on the edge of the box and drilled into the far corner, sending Russia into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
Namibia, who had kept the hosts at arm’s length for much of the opening period, could not withstand the surge after the restart. Danil Prutsev doubled Russia’s advantage in the 54th minute before Konstantin Tyukavin struck 11 minutes later.
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Maksim Glushenkov added Russia’s fourth in the 84th minute, Maksim Petrov converted a penalty three minutes later and Namibia’s misery was completed in stoppage time when Kamaijanda Ndisiro turned the ball into his own net.
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Super Eagles: Russia’s warning arrives at the perfect moment for Chelle
The result gives Karpin’s team a six-goal confidence boost just 72 hours before Nigeria’s Super Eagles turn up at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. Russia also defeated Iran 2-0 on September 29, with the Europeans now netting eight goals in their last two games while conceding none.
Chelle’s challenge is complicated by the Super Eagles’ bruising 3-0 defeat by Guinea-Bissau during the 2027 AFCON qualifiers last week. It is a result that exposed problems the French coach now has to address with limited preparation time.
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The Russia friendly was deliberately built into Nigeria’s schedule as a chance to assess a different group of players, some of whom have vowed not to take the match lightly.
Chelle named a separate 24-man Super Eagles squad for the fixture, including first-time senior invitees such as goalkeeper Samuel James, defender Vince Osuji and several other uncapped options.
Nigeria’s last meeting with Russia ended 1-1 in Moscow in June 2025, when Semi Ajayi’s own goal put the hosts ahead before Tolu Arokodare equalised for the Super Eagles.
The match kicks off at 7pm Moscow time at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
