NFF Praises ‘Resilient’ Super Eagles After Big Fightback Draw Against Russia

The Acting General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, has heaped plaudits on the Super Eagles following a remarkable comeback to draw 3-3 with Russia in an international friendly in Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday.
“This is the Super Eagles we want to see turn up each and every time. The NFF and the Nigeria football family, and I believe all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, are happy with this result. More than the result, the character displayed by the team was remarkable and made us proud.
“Given that we had so many young players with many of them winning their first caps, the result is heartwarming.”
Ikpeme, who was in Nizhny Novgorod with the three-time African champions, said the spirit of doggedness and intention must be carried to next month’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania.
Nigeria will host the Taifa Stars at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 13th November before flying to Dar es Salaam to confront the same team inside the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Tuesday, 17th November.
Against Russia, with whom they drew 1-1 in another friendly in Moscow 16 months ago, the Super Eagles drew the first blood when Kelechi Iheanacho, who has been out of the squad for some time, surprised the hosts’ goalkeeper with a well-drilled grounder after only 10 minutes. Russia levelled on the half-hour through Lechi Sadulaev, and then took the lead two minutes into added time of the first period through Matvey Kislyak.
The ‘Boys’ raced ahead with nine minutes into the second half through Aleksey Miranchuk, and the home crowd countenanced a comfortable win. However, debutant Peter Edokpolor showed strength and character to drive through the Russian defence and reduce the tally in the 78th minute, before Akor Adams drew Nigeria level with four minutes into added time of the second period.
The encouraging result has renewed hopes of the Super Eagles doing a smart double over Tanzania in next month’s 2027 AFCON qualifying matches, and the U23 boys’ capacity to tumble the Democratic Republic of Congo in the race to next year’s U23 Africa Cup of Nations. The U23 boys’ home-and-away encounters will happen within the same international window as the 2027 AFCON qualifiers next month.