The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Russia’s Sbornaya in an international friendly on Tuesday, and they will be without one of their best players, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria are fresh off their first two qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. While they defeated Madagascar, they suffered an embarrassing 3–0 loss to Guinea-Bissau.
Now, their focus shifts entirely to the final fixture of this international break against Russia on Tuesday.
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Heading into this match, coach Éric Chelle is working with a largely untested squad. As of Sunday evening, only 18 players had reported to the Novgorod camp, ten of whom are uncapped.
Consequently, Russia enter the tie as clear favorites, bolstered by home advantage with the match taking place at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
However, it has been confirmed that Russia’s standout player, goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, will miss Tuesday’s encounter.
Why Has Safonov Left Russia’s Camp Ahead of the Super Eagles Clash?
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Reports indicate that Safonov left the Russian camp on Saturday to return to Paris Saint-Germain. He featured in Russia’s opening friendly against Iran on September 29, but was left out of the squad that routed Namibia 6–0 on Saturday.
With no injury reported, the goalkeeper is understood to have returned early to rest and prepare for a demanding club schedule. Safonov is currently locked in a battle with French goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier for PSG’s starting role, where any lapse could cost him his place in the lineup.
In his absence, one of Aleksandr Maksimenko, Anton Mitryushkin, or Stanislav Agkatsev is expected to start between the posts for Russia.
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While Safonov is among the top goalkeepers in world football and will be missed, any of the backup options should prove dependable in goal.
A victory would represent a major milestone for Chelle and his side. Even without a win, the fixture offers the manager a valuable opportunity to evaluate fresh talent for both the senior team and the Olympic squad ahead of the U-23 AFCON qualifiers.
