'One of the strongest teams' - Russia GK hails Super Eagles as top-class opponent ahead of friendly

Russia national team goalkeeper Stanislav Agkatsev has described the Super Eagles as one of the most formidable opponents they will face since their suspension from international football.

The Russians will play two friendlies against Nigeria and Belarus this month, and the standout fixture will see them take on the three-time African champions at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 6, with kickoff scheduled for 18:00 Nigerian time.

With the exception of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi, Super Eagles coach Eric Chele has named a strong squad for next week's friendly.

And they will be heading to Moscow full of confidence, having retained the Unity Cup title following a shootout win against Jamaica at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday evening. 

The match against Nigeria is a significant test for the Russian side, who have gone unbeaten in their recent fixtures.

Speaking ahead of their upcoming friendly, Agkatsev emphasized the quality of the Super Eagles and expressed excitement for what he expects to be a challenging encounter.

"Nigeria has a very good level. Probably one of the strongest teams in recent times," Agkatsev said to TASS.

"I am sure that a very interesting game awaits us. Of course, I would like to play with any strong team, there are many strong ones." 

Since being excluded from international tournaments, Russia have maintained an impressive record, winning all of their last eight matches without conceding a goal.

These victories include dominant performances over Cuba (8–0), Serbia (4–0), Belarus (4–0), Vietnam (3–0), Brunei (11–0), Syria (4–0), Grenada (5–0) and Zambia (5–0).

The friendly against Nigeria is widely seen as a step up in opposition, offering Russia a much-needed test against a high-calibre team with global pedigree.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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