The senior national team of Nigeria have been listed among the three African nations that Russia will play against in a friendly game later this year, OwnGoalNigeria.com understands.
Russia have been banned by FIFA from all international games after the invasion of Ukraine by their government. The ban was announced by FIFA in February 2022.
“FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice,” read a statement by FIFA at the time.
However the host of the 2018 world cup are putting finishing touches to three games, which will be against Senegal, Guinea and Nigeria at the end of the football season in Europe according to Le Monde. The games could likely draw some sanctions from FIFA.
While there is no confirmation on if the duo of Guinea and Senegal have accepted the proposal, the NFF is believed to have already agreed terms for the game, believing that it will not be of any consequence as other African teams have also played against Russia since their ban.
Other African nations who have played Russia since their ban include Cameroon, Kenya, and the Egypt U23s, according to Soccerway.
Ade Emmanuel