Retired Russia international Stanislav Cherchesov has expressed confidence that his team will gain valuable experience from their upcoming international friendly against the Super Eagles of Nigeria on October 6. The match, which will be played at the 44,000-capacity Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, will provide a good test for the hosts, according to Cherchesov. The stadium hosted matches during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The friendly comes 16 months after both teams played out a 1-1 draw in Moscow. Cherchesov, who now coaches Russian Premier League side FC Akhmat Grozny, acknowledged the experience within the Nigerian squad despite uncertainty over the team Eric Chelle will field for the friendly. He noted that all teams use friendly matches to test their strategies and players.
Cherchesov's comments were reported by Championat, a Russian sports website. The Russian coach stated that the Iranian and Nigerian teams are of a good standard and have a lot of experience. However, he expressed uncertainty about the lineup Nigeria will field for the friendly. This uncertainty may be due to the absence of several regular players.
Nigeria will be without several key players, including Bruno Onyemaechi, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Osimhen. Their absence may pose a challenge for coach Eric Chelle as he prepares for the friendly. Despite this, Cherchesov believes the encounter will provide valuable experience for his team.
The Super Eagles will arrive in Russia after their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Guinea-Bissau in Bissau on September 29. Nigeria opened their campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo. This win will likely boost the team's morale ahead of the friendly against Russia.
The latest meeting between Nigeria and Russia will be the second between both countries. The two teams last met at the Luzhniki Stadium in June 2025, when Russia took the lead through Ajayi’s own goal before Tolu Arokodare equalised for the Eagles in the second half. This match will provide an opportunity for both teams to assess their current form.
The friendly match against Nigeria will be an important test for Russia ahead of future international competitions. With the experience and skills of the Nigerian players, Cherchesov's team will need to be at their best to secure a positive result. The match will be a valuable experience for both teams as they prepare for future challenges.
Key points
- Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov expects a tough test against Nigeria
- The friendly match will be played at the 44,000-capacity Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
- Nigeria will be without several key players due to injuries or other reasons
