Nigeria, Russia Set for Second-Ever Clash in Nizhny Novgorod

The Super Eagles in a group photo before their last clash with Russia in Moscow on 6th June 2025 The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Russia for only the second time ever when both countries clash in an international friendly at the 44,000-capacity Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The fixture was confirmed by Nigeria's FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodatasports. Nigeria and Russia first met on June 6, 2025, in a friendly at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, where the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. The hosts took the lead in the first half after Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi scored an own goal, but the Super Eagles fought back after the interval, with Tolu Arokodare scoring the equaliser. The return encounter in Nizhny Novgorod will provide Nigeria with another opportunity to test its strength against European opposition, coming shortly after the Super Eagles' opening two matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Nigeria will begin their AFCON 2027 campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, before travelling to Bissau to take on Guinea-Bissau's Wild Dogs on Tuesday, September 29. The Russia friendly will come exactly one week after Nigeria's second qualifying fixture. The Super Eagles, who failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico, have nevertheless remained active on the international scene. Nigeria retained the Afro-Caribbean Unity Cup Football Tournament in London, before securing a 2-2 draw against Poland in Warsaw and suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to Portugal in Meira. The Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, which has a capacity of 44,000, hosted matches during the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals and will provide the setting for the second-ever meeting between the two nations. For Russia, the encounter will be only its second match at the venue. The hosts previously defeated Cyprus 1-0 there in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying fixture in June 2019. Nigeria are currently ranked 26th in the world, while Russia occupy 35th position in the latest rankings cited for the fixture. The October 6 encounter is expected to serve as another important test for the Super Eagles as they continue preparations for the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign and build towards the next phase of their international programme. Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: Sports Village Square – WhatsApp channel Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced his retirement from international football for the second time, bringing an end to his 13-year association with the Panthers amid a bitter dispute with the country's football authorities. The 37-year-old striker announced in a television interview, saying he felt 'humiliated' by the treatment he received following Gabon's disappointing campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. According to French broadcaster RMC, Aubameyang said he had represented Gabon at the tournament despite playing with an injury, only to feel that his reputation was subsequently damaged. 'That was the final straw, and I prefer to stop here,' he said. His decision comes less than three weeks before Gabon are due to begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against hosts Morocco on September 23. The rift between Aubameyang and Gabonese authorities dates back to the Panthers' disastrous AFCON 2025 campaign, when they suffered three defeats in the group stage, including a 3-2 loss to eventual champions Côte d'Ivoire in their final match. Following the early elimination, Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema criticised the national team's performance, arguing that the team's struggles threatened to undermine part of the country's national identity. The government subsequently dissolved the coaching staff, suspended the national team's activities and left Aubameyang and experienced defender Bruno Ecuele Manga out of the squad. The moves attracted criticism from supporters, while Aubameyang maintained that the problems affecting the national team went beyond his own involvement. The latest announcement represents Aubameyang's second retirement from international football. He first stepped away from the national team in 2022 before reversing the decision and returning to represent Gabon. Despite the turbulent final chapter, Aubameyang leaves behind a remarkable international record. He is Gabon's all-time leading scorer, with 40 goals in 83 appearances for the Panthers. His departure represents a major blow for new Gabon coach Sébastien Migné, who must now rebuild the national team without the country's most prolific goalscorer as preparations intensify for the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers. Gabon will face Morocco in their opening Group A qualifier on September 23 before continuing their campaign against Niger and Lesotho. Having failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Panthers will now make AFCON qualification one of their principal objectives. At club level, Aubameyang continues his European career with Deportivo La Coruña, following his departure from Marseille. The Spanish club have returned to La Liga, and the Gabonese forward has already made an impact, scoring three goals for his new side. For Gabon, however, his international retirement leaves a significant void at precisely the moment the Panthers are preparing for another demanding continental qualifying campaign. Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: Sports Village Square – WhatsApp channel FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the trophy as he celebrates winning the World Cup REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo All soccer matches in Argentina this weekend will be paused in the 10th minute for a 60-second round of applause to honor superstar Lionel Messi, the Argentine Football Association announced. The tribute ​follows Messi announcing his retirement from the national team on Monday. Messi, 39, ‌has worn the No. 10 jersey most often while representing Argentina. 'For the upcoming matchday across all men's and women's divisions and disciplines, matches will be paused in the 10th minute of the first half for a minute ​of applause in recognition of Lionel Messi's career with the Argentina national team,' the ​AFA announced late Wednesday. 'Furthermore, stadiums equipped with screens must broadcast the Association's institutional ⁠video prior to the start of the matches.' The Inter Miami star led Argentina to a runner-up ​finish in this summer's World Cup. In eight matches, he had eight goals to bring his ​final tally to 125 career international goals (21 in World Cups). 'After the time that passed since the final, thinking about it a lot, I want to communicate to everyone that I am retiring from the national team,' Messi ​wrote Monday on Instagram. 'It was a decision that hurt and hurts in my soul, but I ​understand that this is the moment. I swear to you that I always gave everything, not just in ‌the ⁠last few years when we won everything, but before as well, and I always fought and left everything on the field for this shirt, to give you all joy and make you feel proud to be Argentines through soccer.' It's a second retirement for Messi, who originally said he was ​done with international play ​after a 2016 Copa ⁠América final loss to Chile. But he opted to return and led Argentina to the World Cup championship in 2022 and Copa America titles ​in 2021 and 2024. Messi did not indicate whether this could also be ​his final ⁠season in Major League Soccer. 'I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — along with my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of. Experiencing this with you was incredible. I ⁠love you ​all,' he said. Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner as ​the world's best player, is currently in his fourth season with Miami. Last season, he led the team to its ​first MLS Cup championship and won the league MVP award for the second consecutive campaign. -Reuters Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, six weeks on from Argentina's defeat in the World Cup final and after over 200 appearances for his country stretching across more than two decades. AFP Sport looks back at the moments that defined Messi's career with his country. – Inauspicious start – Messi's international career began as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 2005. His first cap was unforgettable for the wrong reasons — ninety seconds after coming on as a substitute in a friendly with Hungary in Budapest, he was sent off for what the referee saw as an elbow. The following June he made his first World Cup appearance in the 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro with which Argentina began the 2006 tournament in Germany. Messi got his team's final goal in Gelsenkirchen — the first game and goal of what would become a legendary relationship with the World Cup. – First World Cup final – Messi was 26 when Argentina headed to Brazil in 2014, but was already established as one of the greats thanks to his achievements with Barcelona. There had been numerous disappointments with Argentina: quarter-final defeats, both to Germany, at the World Cup in 2006 and in 2010, the latter with Diego Maradona as coach. There was also a Copa America final loss to Brazil in 2007, and a miserable showing at the 2011 version of that competition on home soil. Messi went to Brazil as captain of Alejandro Sabella's team, and made a flying start by scoring in every group game. The goals then dried up, but he took Argentina to their first World Cup final since the days of Maradona, only for the Albiceleste to fall short against Germany at the Maracanã. – 2016: His lowest ebb – The 2014 heartache was followed by the misery of losing the following year's Copa America final on penalties to Chile. Messi therefore went to the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the United States on a mission to finally win a major international title. Argentina cruised to the final. Chile stood before Argentina once again at MetLife Stadium just outside New York, but the outcome was identical — another defeat on penalties, with Messi this time missing his kick. Messi, who had already won over 100 caps, was heartbroken. 'For me the national team is over,' he declared. 'I've done all I can, I've been in four finals, and it hurts not to be a champion.' Six weeks later Messi changed his mind and agreed to come out of his brief international retirement. – A winner at last – The second half of Messi's international career could not have contrasted more starkly, with Lionel Scaloni's appointment as coach in 2018 proving a game-changer. In 2021, in the middle of the Covid pandemic, Messi and Argentina went to Brazil for the Copa America and beat the hosts 1-0 in the final thanks to an Angel Di Maria goal to claim their first major title in 28 years. – The crowning glory in Qatar – Messi could, and perhaps should, have bowed out after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the Barcelona legend — by now 35 and playing for PSG — found another level to drag Argentina to victory. He scored seven goals and set up three more in seven games, including a brace in the epic final against France — when he also converted his penalty in the shootout, which gave Argentina the trophy for the third time in their history. 'Obviously I wanted to finish my career with this. I can't ask for any more,' Messi said after that triumph. But he wanted to play on a little longer as a world champion, and in the end he kept going all the way to this year's tournament. – Another final defeat – Messi skippered his country to another title at the 2024 Copa America before going into a record-equalling sixth World Cup this year in the USA. He was about to turn 39, but doubts about his age were blown away as Messi scored eight goals in his team's first five games and helped inspire them to another final. Messi has played more World Cup matches than anyone else (34) and scored 21 goals overall. He became only the second player to appear in three different World Cup finals, but he and Argentina were abject as they lost in extra time to Spain — an anticlimactic ending to an international career spanning 207 matches and 125 goals. -AFP Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: Sports Village Square – WhatsApp channel