Russia coach explains why Champions League-winning PSG goalkeeper may miss friendly with Nigeria

Russia's goalkeeping coach, Vitaly Kafanov has revealed why Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper Matvey Safonov may miss the June internationals against Nigeria and Belarus.

Safonov is among four goalkeepers selected in the squad list by manager Valery Karpin, alongside Andrey Lunev (Dynamo Moscow), Anton Mitryushkin (Lokomotiv Moscow) and Stanislav Agkatsev (Krasnodar).

The standout fixture will see Russia, the 2018 Fifa World Cup hosts, take on three-time African champions Nigeria at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 6, with kickoff scheduled for 18:00 Nigerian time.

Safonov was in the PSG team that recorded a historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League showpiece on Saturday, May 31, although he was an unused substitute.

Discussions between Russia's coaching staff and Safonov are scheduled for Monday to determine whether the goalkeeper can join the training camp that kicked off on 31 May at their Novogorsk base.

"If we talk about the national team, tomorrow morning we will call Matvey and decide whether he should come to this training camp or not," Kafanov said to Sport Express. 

"On June 9, he should already be in Paris. If he comes to the national team now, he will be left without rest.”

In the recently concluded season, Safonov appeared in seventeen matches across all competitions for PSG, including two in the Champions League, posting seven clean sheets while conceding thirteen goals.

PSG are participating in the 2025 Club World Cup, which will be held from June 15 to July 13 in the United States. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: psg.fr

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com