Russia goalkeeper Stanislav Agkatsev has described Nigeria's Super Eagles as "one of the strongest teams in the world" ahead of their international friendly match scheduled for Friday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The high-profile friendly will see Valery Karpin's Russian side test their mettle against the three-time African champions, who enter the fixture in excellent form after recently winning the Unity Cup invitational tournament in London.
Speaking to Russian news outlet TASS, Agkatsev expressed his respect for the Nigerian team: "Nigeria has a very good level. Probably one of the strongest teams in recent times. 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."
The Super Eagles, currently under the guidance of coach Eric Chelle, are riding a wave of confidence, remaining unbeaten in their last four matches. Their recent Unity Cup triumph has further boosted morale within the squad as they prepare to face Russia.
This encounter represents an important test for both nations as they continue their preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures. For Russia, hosting a team of Nigeria's caliber provides valuable experience against top-tier opposition.
Coach Chelle has emphasized the importance of maintaining their winning momentum, urging the Super Eagles to continue their impressive run against the Russians.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 6 PM Nigerian time on Friday, with football fans eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting international friendly between two ambitious teams.