Despite a 2022 ban issued by FIFA against Russia, the Russian Football Union (RFU) has said its national team will play the Super Eagles of Nigeria on June 6.

The RFU, however, failed to state the venue for the event scheduled to be played in Russia.

In a statement issued on its website on Thursday, the RFU revealed that Russia will also play Zambia in a friendly match before facing Belarus on June 10.

RFU said it “reached agreements” with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the two other national football bodies to arrange the friendly matches.

FIFA and UEFA had in 2022 banned Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

The decision suspended all Russian national teams and clubs from participating in FIFA and UEFA competitions.

But in 2023, the world football governing body relaxed the sanction to allow Russian U-17 national teams to compete in international competitions.

The youth teams are to play under the name of the ‘Football Union of Russia’ rather than Russia, in the absence of their national flag, national anthem, national-team kit and equipment, and instead playing in neutral colours.

Despite the ban, the Russian men’s national team have been playing non-FIFA-sanctioned friendly matches against non-western countries.

NFF is yet to issue an official statement about its true position on the friendly announcement by the Russian FA. If the match becomes official, it will be the first game between Nigeria and Russia at the senior level of international football.