Russia goalkeeper Matvey Safonov has acknowledged his error that led to Nigeria's equalizing goal in the 1-1 draw between Russia and the Super Eagles in an international friendly match.

The friendly encounter, which took place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday night, saw Russia held to a draw after Safonov's mistake allowed Nigeria back into the game.

Goalkeeper's Costly Error

The Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper mistakenly passed the ball directly to Nigerian substitute Tolu Arokodare in the 71st minute, who capitalized on the opportunity and slotted home to level the score at 1-1.

Speaking to Match TV after the game, the 26-year-old goalkeeper took full responsibility for his team's failure to secure a victory: "Yes, in principle, everything is clear there. Just a regular pass that probably shouldn't have been done. I think that we shouldn't dwell too much on it or look for an excuse. It was a mistake from me."

The error proved costly as Valery Karpin's side was unable to find a winner in the remaining minutes of the match, settling for a draw against the Nigerian team.

Looking Ahead

Following this result, the Russian national team will now shift their focus to their next friendly match against Belarus, scheduled to take place in Minsk next Tuesday.

For the Super Eagles, the draw represents a positive result in their international friendly schedule as they continue their preparations for upcoming competitions.

Despite the disappointment of conceding the equalizer, Russia's coach Valery Karpin reportedly felt his team deserved more from the match based on their overall performance.

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