Adams Scores Late Leveller In Six-goal Thriller Against Russia
A much-changed Nigeria side came from behind twice to draw 3-3 with Russia in an entertaining international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, giving Eric Chelle’s men a credible way to close out a mixed international break.
The result followed criticism of the Super Eagles after their shock 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their last outing, a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, with the friendly offering Chelle the chance to end the window on a positive note against a Russian side chasing its own momentum after thrashing Namibia 6-0 at the weekend.
Chelle handed debuts to nine players in a heavily rotated line-up built to test the depth of his squad, with only six starters — Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Abdullahi Bewene and Aderemi Adeoye — having previously featured for the three-time African champions.
Recalled after more than 16 months out of the national team, Iheanacho gave Nigeria an early lead in the 11th minute, latching onto a pass from Bewene on the edge of the box before driving a left-footed effort into the top corner for his 15th international goal.
Despite controlling the early exchanges, Nigeria’s inexperienced backline was soon exposed, with Russia levelling through Lechi Sadulaev on the half-hour mark before Matvey Kislyak put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half-time.
Aleksey Miranchuk extended Russia’s lead to 3-1 nine minutes into the second half, prompting Chelle to turn to his bench in search of a response. The changes paid off almost immediately.
Debutant Peter Edokpolor, just 19, drove through the Russian defence before firing in an unstoppable finish in the 78th minute to reduce the deficit, having been preceded by a near-miss from fellow substitute, Umar Abdullahi, five minutes earlier.
With the momentum now firmly with the Super Eagles, Chelle introduced Vince Osuji for Chibuzo Nwoko to shore up the midfield as Nigeria pushed for an equaliser.
The pressure told in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when Fernandez’s long header sprang a swift counter-attack that ended with Abdullahi squaring the ball for substitute, Akor Adams, to turn home a dramatic 94th-minute leveller.
Ahead of the game, Adams had disclosed that Chelle demanded a win from his much-changed squad despite the absence of key players, including captain Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Chelle will take heart from the fighting spirit his young side showed in salvaging a point, even if victory ultimately eluded them.
Nigeria will turn their attention back to competitive football next, with the Super Eagles facing Tanzania in a double-header in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers in November.
