Super Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle has issued a bold statement about Nigeria’s mindset ahead of their upcoming clash against Russia, in Moscow.
Speaking after Nigeria’s triumph in the Unity Cup, Chelle made his intentions clear:
“Our goal is to win every game, so we’re going to Russia to play for the win,” he said during the post match press conference.
“It’s never easy playing away from home. Once again, we must show the world our mentality,” Chelle added.
The fixture poses a distinct challenge for the Super Eagles as they prepare to face Russia for the first time in history.
Although Russia has been sidelined from competitive tournaments since the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2021 due to international sanctions, they have stayed active through friendly matches, recently delivering a commanding 5–0 win against Zambia.
Nigeria clinched the Unity Cup title on Saturday after edging past Jamaica in a penalty shootout.
With 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers ongoing, Chelle sees each match as vital to refining the team’s identity and building cohesion.
The friendly against Russia will kick off at6:00 PM Nigerian time at the Luzhniki Stadium, famously known for hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final.
