Valery Karpin, the head coach of Russia, acknowledged that his team is facing a tough challenge in the upcoming friendly match against Nigeria. The Russian side has shown strong performance lately, achieving a 5-0 win over Zambia in March. However, they will be up against a stronger opponent in the Super Eagles, who have not lost in their last six matches. Karpin stated that they plan to approach this game similarly to their past encounters. Additionally, Russia midfielder Glebov expressed his expectation of a challenging match against the Super Eagles. Karpin stated before the match, “Regardless of whether we face Nigeria or Serbia, our goal is to implement what we’ve practiced in training. Pressing is more challenging against Serbia or Cameroon compared to teams like Grenada or Brunei.” However, the criteria remain consistent. Karpin discussed how his team is getting ready for the upcoming match. He mentioned, “My approach to preparing for national team games shifted once I was free from club responsibilities. This allowed me to independently assess potential players, watch matches, and analyze the recent performances of the Nigerian national team under their new coach.” Written by Adeboye Amosu
