Russia vs Nigeria - prediction, team news, lineups

After an unconvincing commencement to their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, Nigeria sojourn Russia successful a affable brushwood astatine the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium connected Tuesday evening.

Eric Chelle’s broadside were beaten 3-0 successful Guinea-Bissau, a effect that has heaped unit connected the Super Eagles’ competitory campaign, portion Valery Karpin’s Russia get into the fixture connected the backmost of 4 consecutive victories.

Match preview

Russia person been incapable to enactment successful competitory shot since their suspension from UEFA and FIFA competitions pursuing the penetration of Ukraine successful 2022, but Karpin has kept his squad crisp done a dependable programme of planetary friendlies, and the results person been encouraging.

Heading into Tuesday’s game, Russia are connected a four-match winning streak, with each of those victories featuring astatine slightest 2 goals. 

Their astir caller outing produced a 6-0 dismantling of Namibia, with six antithetic scorers getting connected the scoresheet, and that followed a 2-0 triumph implicit Iran successful Kazan connected September 29, successful which Aleksandr Golovin scored doubly successful the archetypal half. 

Russia’s past decision was a constrictive 1-0 nonaccomplishment to Egypt successful May, truthful the hosts volition get astatine the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium successful a assured mood.

Nigeria, meanwhile, travel into Tuesday’s fixture disconnected the backmost of a damaging 3-0 decision to Guinea-Bissau successful the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers - a effect that has raised superior questions astir the Super Eagles’ prospects successful a radical from which lone 1 squad volition qualify. 

Chelle’s broadside had begun the run with a 2-1 triumph implicit Madagascar successful Uyo, coming from a extremity down to win, but the decision successful Bissau has shifted the temper importantly astir the squad.

Prior to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Nigeria’s past affable outing was a 2-1 decision to Portugal successful June, with Akor Adams scoring the lone extremity for the Super Eagles. 

That result, combined with the Guinea-Bissau performance, means Chelle heads into Tuesday’s fixture nether unit to spot a affirmative effect from his players.

Chelle has named a abstracted squad for this friendly, opting to usage the juncture to measure fringe players and newcomers alternatively than simply repeating the XI that has been carrying the value of AFCON qualification. 

For players specified arsenic Vince Osuji, John Otomewo and Chibuzo Nwoko, a beardown show connected Tuesday could crook a one-off invitation into a foothold successful Chelle’s aboriginal plans up of the November qualifiers.

The 2 nations met for the archetypal and lone clip successful June 2025, a 1-1 affable gully successful which Semi Ajayi scored an ain goal, Tolu Arokodare netted his archetypal extremity for Nigeria, and Russia enjoyed 57% possession throughout. 

Tuesday’s rematch gives some sides the accidental to marque a stronger content than that brushwood produced.

Russia International Friendlies form:

Nigeria International Friendlies form: 

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Nigeria signifier (all competitions):

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Team News

Karpin is expected to sanction a beardown broadside pursuing the 6-0 triumph implicit Namibia, with fewer reasons to marque wholesale changes aft specified a convincing display.

Konstantin Tyukavin could commencement successful onslaught aft lasting 78 minutes successful the triumph implicit Iran, having travel disconnected the seat successful the rout of Namibia. 

Stanislav Agkatsev is expected to proceed successful goal, with Arsen Adamov, Viktor Melekhin, Artem Karpukas and Mingiyan Beveev each apt to diagnostic successful the outfield positions.

Nigeria caput into the fixture with respective absentees to manage. Wilfred Ndidi has withdrawn from the squad, portion Victory Akpe - named arsenic his replacement - besides pulled retired aft sustaining an wounded successful training. 

Osuji of Tromso has been called up successful his place, portion 19-year-old Stade Reims midfielder Otomewo comes into the squad arsenic different caller face.

Bright Osayi-Samuel has besides withdrawn from the friendly, becoming the 3rd subordinate to propulsion retired of the squad, with Rostov midfielder Ibraheem Mahfus Ajasa receiving a precocious call-up to screen the shortfall.

Chelle is without 9 members of his preferred starting lineup for this fixture, with Ola Aina, Bruno Onyemaechi, Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen each absent from the travelling squad. 

Kelechi Iheanacho is among those present; however, the guardant volition beryllium anxious to person a singular tally of nine signifier into a affirmative planetary showing.

Russia imaginable starting lineup:

Agkatsev; Adamov, Melyokhin, Osipenko, Beveev; Karpukas, Prutsev, Umyarov; Miranchuk, Sadulayev, Tyukavin

Nigeria imaginable starting lineup:

Nwabali; James, Fernandez, Benjamin, Igboke; Onyedika, Nwoko, Michael; Simon, Akor, Iheanacho

We say: Russia 1-1 Nigeria

Russia’s location comforts and their beardown caller signifier marque them the much settled broadside heading into this fixture, and with Nigeria without respective of their cardinal players, Karpin’s broadside volition fancy their chances of claiming a triumph successful beforehand of their ain supporters. The hosts person recovered the nett astatine slightest doubly successful each of their past 4 matches and person the prime to occupation a makeshift Nigeria backline.

That said, the Super Eagles person capable idiosyncratic prime adjacent successful this squad to origin Russia problems connected the counter, and with Chelle’s fringe players motivated to marque a lawsuit for regular inclusion, Nigeria whitethorn good find an equaliser if they autumn behind.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this match, please click here.