The Super Eagles staged a stunning second-half fightback to rescue a 3-3 draw against Russia in a thrilling international friendly in Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday.
Nigeria, who trailed 3-1 early in the second half, refused to surrender as goals from Peter Edokpolor and Akor Adams completed a dramatic comeback for Eric Chelle’s side.
Kelechi Iheanacho gave Nigeria a dream start when he fired the visitors ahead in the 10th minute.
Russia, however, responded strongly, with Lechi Sadulaev equalising in the 30th minute before Matvey Kislyak put the hosts ahead in first-half stoppage time.
Aleksey Miranchuk then extended Russia’s advantage to 3-1 in the 54th minute, leaving the Super Eagles staring at another disappointing result after their recent 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau.
But Nigeria dramatically turned the game around in the closing stages.
Teenage debutant Peter Edokpolor pulled one back in the 78th minute, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and injecting fresh belief into the Nigerian camp.
The Super Eagles intensified the pressure as the game entered stoppage time, and their persistence finally paid off.
Akor Adams struck in the fourth minute of added time to level the scores at 3-3 and complete Nigeria’s remarkable fightback.
The late equaliser rescued Nigeria from what had looked like a damaging defeat and gave Chelle’s much-changed squad a positive ending to a difficult international window.
The draw was particularly significant given the number of inexperienced players handed opportunities by Chelle, with Nigeria using the encounter to assess squad depth ahead of future competitive assignments.
For Russia, the collapse was a bitter end to a match in which the hosts had established a commanding 3-1 advantage.
Nigeria’s result also maintains the Super Eagles’ unbeaten record in their two most recent meetings with Russia, following a 1-1 draw between both sides in Moscow in June 2025.
The Super Eagles will now turn their attention to their next competitive assignments, with Nigeria scheduled to face Tanzania in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in November.
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