NFF defends Russia friendly, says match is about football, not politics

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reaffirmed its decision to proceed with the international friendly match between the Super Eagles and Russia’s national team, scheduled for June 6, 2025, in Moscow, despite criticism and concerns over the political implications.

In a statement issued Monday, the NFF emphasized that the fixture is part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and not an endorsement of any political stance.

“This is not a diplomatic or ideological alignment — it is a football match,” a senior NFF official stated. “Our priority is the sporting growth of the national team as we prepare for the World Cup qualifiers.”

The federation said it conducted a thorough security assessment in collaboration with the Russian Embassy in Nigeria and found no threats to players, officials, or fans at the Moscow venue.

The friendly has received official approval from FIFA, the NFF noted, citing Zambia’s recent international fixture against Russia on March 25 as a precedent.

“Nigeria is not alone in engaging the Russian national team,” the statement added.

The NFF pushed back against public and media criticism, urging observers to “view the fixture through the lens of sporting development and international collaboration.”

“Sport, particularly football, has always been a bridge builder,” the federation said. “Nigeria’s global football engagements have consistently promoted peace, unity, and shared humanity.”

Officials further highlighted the technical benefits of facing Russia, a former FIFA World Cup host and a regular competitor on the global stage.

“This match gives us an opportunity to assess our squad, offer new players valuable international exposure, and fine-tune strategies against a strong opponent.”

The NFF concluded by calling for restraint in politicizing the friendly.

“Attempts to frame this as a political endorsement are misleading and unhelpful. The Super Eagles represent a proud footballing nation guided by professionalism and principle,” the statement said.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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