Tolu Arokodare came off the bench to score his first international goal as the Super Eagles of Nigeria draw 1-1 with Russia in an international friendly at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday.
The game was the third fixture for Eric Chelle’s side in the space of one week, having played Ghana and Jamaica in the Unity Cup 2025 tournament in London last week.
The Russians meanwhile came into this game on the back of an eight-game winning streak, all of them coming in friendlies.
The hosts were the ones to go in front in the 27th minute when West Bromwich Albion centre-back Semi Ajayi put the ball into his own net.
The game remained in Russia’s favour until the 71st minute when Genk forward Arokodare, who came off the bench for Victor Boniface 10 minutes earlier, finished off with ease after goalkeeper Matey Safonov fluffed his lines.
The result sees Russia unbeaten in their last 17 fixtures (W12, D5), stretching back to September 2022 while Nigeria are unbeaten in five games (W2 D3) since Chelle took charge in March.
