At 3-1 down, it looked over. Then Nigeria did what Nigeria does best and refused to die. On Tuesday, October 6, a heavily rotated Super Eagles side clawed back from two goals behind to draw 3-3 with Russia in Nizhny Novgorod. Akor Adams snatched the equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
A Dream Start for Iheanacho
Kelechi Iheanacho put Nigeria ahead after just 10 minutes, driving a left-footed finish past Aleksandr Maksimenko after a pass from Abdullahi Bewene. It was his 15th goal for the Super Eagles and his first since November 2023, ending a wait of almost three years. He was also playing for Nigeria for the first time since the 2025 Unity Cup final. The Bursaspor striker arrived in red-hot form, with 11 goals in his first nine games for his club.
Russia Turn the Game Around
Russia had other ideas. Lechi Sadulaev levelled in the 30th minute, and Matvey Kislyak put the hosts ahead in first-half stoppage time. Aleksei Miranchuk made it 3-1 in the 54th minute. Russia arrived on the back of a 6-0 win over Namibia, held 62 percent of possession and took 15 shots to Nigeria’s 10. A week earlier, remember, Nigeria had lost 3-0 in Guinea-Bissau in AFCON 2027 qualifying.
Chelle’s Substitutes Change the Night
Coach Eric Chelle gave five players their first caps in the starting line-up, and nine players made their debut overall. His bench made the difference. Akor Adams came on at half-time, joined later by Abdullahi Umar, Peter Edokpolor and Umar Abubakar as Nigeria chased the game.
Edokpolor Sparks the Fightback
Peter Edokpolor, the 19-year-old Benfica attacker, scored in the 78th minute on his senior debut. His unstoppable strike cut the gap to 3-2 and lit up the Super Eagles bench.
Adams Rescues a Point
Then came the drama. Deep into stoppage time, a counter-attack that began with a header from Emmanuel Fernandez ended with Adams finishing in the 90+4th minute. The Venezia striker’s goal made it 3-3, spared Chelle back-to-back defeats and gave Nigeria a result that felt like a win.
What the Draw Tells Us
The positives are clear. Nigeria showed real character, Iheanacho’s return gives Chelle a fresh selection question, and several young players impressed. The worry is at the back, where Nigeria have conceded six goals in two matches. Debutant goalkeeper Samuel James made several saves before he was beaten three times. Chelle now has selection headaches before Nigeria’s next competitive match in November.
Russia vs Nigeria: Key Facts
- Result: Russia 3-3 Nigeria, October 6, 2026
- Venue: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
- Nigeria goals: Iheanacho (10′), Edokpolor (78′), Adams (90+4′)
- Russia goals: Sadulaev (30′), Kislyak (45’+), Miranchuk (54′)
For fans searching for the Russia vs Nigeria result, the headline is simple: three goals in a wild second half, one 19-year-old debut hero and a late equaliser that kept Chelle’s team smiling.
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