Akor Adams scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Nigeria recovered from 3–1 down to draw 3–3 with Russia in Nizhny Novgorod. The result gives the Super Eagles a positive finish to a friendly in which their early advantage disappeared before a late recovery.
Kelechi Iheanacho put Nigeria ahead, but Russia led 2–1 at half-time and added another goal after the interval. Nigeria’s response came through Edokpolor in the 78th minute before Adams levelled in the 94th, according to the Nigeria Football Federation’s match report.
The sequence matters as much as the final score. Nigeria were not simply protecting an early lead: they had to repair a two-goal deficit late in the match. Adams’ intervention prevented the evening from ending with the hosts holding that advantage.
NFF General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme said the performance “made us proud”. His reaction focused on the team’s character and on the involvement of young players, several of whom were earning their first international caps.
For Nigerian fans following players abroad, this was an opportunity to assess a wider group in national-team conditions. The federation reported nine debutants. That breadth makes the friendly useful evidence for future selection, although a draw alone cannot tell supporters which newcomers will keep their places in competitive matches.
The next judgement should be grounded in those competitive requirements. A late comeback is encouraging, but Nigeria also conceded three times after taking the lead. Both parts of the performance belong in the assessment; celebrating the equaliser should not erase the earlier difficulties.
Read the match evidence for the official scoring sequence. Which mattered more to you: Adams’ late goal or Nigeria’s ability to keep pursuing the game from two goals behind?
