The Super Eagles mounted a remarkable late comeback to secure a 3-3 draw against Russia in Tuesday’s international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Akor Adams completed the comeback with a late goal, while Kelechi Iheanacho, returning to the national team, and 19-year-old Benfica debutant Peter Edokpolor also found the net for Nigeria.
The result means the Super Eagles have now drawn their last two meetings with Russia, following a 1-1 stalemate in their first friendly encounter in 2025.
The draw also ended Russia’s four-match winning run, during which they scored 14 goals without conceding.
Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle fielded an experimental starting XI, with Iheanacho and Moses Simon the only established senior players in the lineup.
The other starters were debutant goalkeeper Samuel James, Chibuzor Nwoko, Wilfred Igor, Aderemi Adeoye, Isaac James, Stephen Michael, returning defender Benjamin Frederick, Emmanuel Fernandez and Abdullahi Bewene.
Although Nigeria spent much of the opening half under pressure, the Super Eagles took a surprise lead in the 10th minute.
Iheanacho received a pass from Bewene before firing a low left-footed effort into the net.
Russia nearly equalised four minutes later following a poor back pass from left-back James, but the Russian player’s effort struck his own teammate.
The hosts threatened again in the 25th minute when a dangerous cross was delivered into Nigeria’s penalty area, but Fernandez produced a timely block.
Russia eventually found an equaliser in the 30th minute through Lechi Sadulaev, who finished past James after Fernandez lost possession near the Super Eagles’ box.
Two minutes later, Russia almost completed the turnaround, but James produced a good save to keep out a header.
The hosts eventually took the lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Matvey Kislyak converted a low cross from the left wing.
Chelle made two substitutions at the beginning of the second half, bringing on Adams and another debutant, Abdullahi Umar, for Iheanacho and Michael.
However, the changes did little to halt Russia’s momentum as Aleksey Miranchuk extended the hosts’ advantage to 3-1.
Miranchuk’s low effort from inside the box went underneath James after Russia opened up the Nigerian defence with a series of well-worked passes.
Russia continued to dominate afterwards, keeping the Super Eagles deep in their own half, although they failed to add to their advantage.
With 20 minutes remaining, Chelle introduced Edokpolor and Abubakar for Simon and Adeoye.
The substitutions quickly produced an impact, with Edokpolor pulling one goal back through an impressive individual effort.
The teenager received the ball on the left flank, beat his marker and fired towards goal, with the effort taking a deflection before finding the back of the net.
The goal gave Nigeria renewed confidence, and the Super Eagles came close to an equaliser in the 91st minute.
Abubakar dribbled past his marker inside the box but saw his effort saved by the Russian goalkeeper.
Nigeria finally completed the comeback in the 94th minute when Adams converted Abubakar’s well-placed pass inside the penalty area to make it 3-3.
Russia nearly snatched a winner moments later, but a header from a cross sailed narrowly over the crossbar.