Tolu Arokodare marked a memorable moment by scoring his first international goal as Nigeria fought back to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Russia in a friendly match played on Friday in Moscow.
The Super Eagles found themselves on the back foot early in the match after conceding an own goal in the 27th minute. Defender Semi Ajayi, under pressure from Russian attacker Mikhail Komlichenko, inadvertently turned a cross from Dmitri Krugovoy into his own net, putting the home side ahead against the run of play.
Throughout the first half, Nigeria dominated possession and controlled the tempo of the game but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. The team’s attacking efforts often lacked cohesion and precision, leading to a fragmented performance in the final third.
One of Nigeria’s best chances before halftime came from midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who managed to break through the Russian defense and unleash a shot on target, only to be denied by an alert save from the Russian goalkeeper, Matvei Safonov.
In the second half, Russia threatened to extend their lead early on with promising attempts from forwards Glushenkov and Melekhin, both narrowly missing the target. However, the game turned in Nigeria’s favor thanks to a costly defensive error by Safonov in the 71st minute. The Russian goalkeeper’s misdirected pass was swiftly capitalized on by substitute Tolu Arokodare, who showed great composure and clinical finishing to level the score, much to the delight of the visiting supporters.
Following the equalizer, Russia intensified their search for a winning goal, applying pressure that forced Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye into several crucial saves. Notably, Okoye denied powerful shots from Batrakov and Barinov, keeping Nigeria’s hopes alive in a tense closing period.
Nigeria responded to the mounting pressure by making strategic defensive substitutions, shoring up their backline and successfully managing the remaining minutes of the match. The team’s resilience and tactical discipline ultimately ensured they held on for a valuable draw on foreign soil.
This result provides the Super Eagles with a positive platform as they continue to prepare for upcoming competitive fixtures, while Tolu Arokodare’s goal offers a promising glimpse of the young forward’s potential impact on the international stage.