Nigeria came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Russia in an international friendly on Tuesday, with Akor Adams scoring deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for the Super Eagles at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. Nizhny Novgorod is a major city on the Volga River, about 400 kilometres east of Moscow.

Kelechi Iheanacho gave Nigeria the lead after 10 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area. Russia levelled on 30 minutes through Lechi Sadulaev, who capitalised on a defensive error by Emmanuel Fernandez. Just before the break, Matvey Kislyak arrived in the box to score from a deflected cross, putting the hosts 2-1 ahead at half-time. Nine minutes into the second half, Aleksey Miranchuk made it 3-1 with a tame shot that went in through the body of debutant goalkeeper Samuel James.

Nigeria looked set for another setback, but the team kept pushing after a series of substitutions. Substitute Peter Edokpolor reduced the deficit in the 78th minute with a deflected curling effort, and Adams equalised in the 94th minute with a precise finish.

The result offers some relief after Nigeria's 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the previous match of the international break. Reports noted that the squad was weakened by the withdrawal of several players, leaving coach Eric Chelle to field an unfamiliar line-up. It was also the first time under Chelle that Nigeria have conceded three goals in two consecutive games. The draw was his sixth in 31 matches as head coach.

Russia had come into the game on the back of a 6-0 win over Namibia and will be disappointed to have let a two-goal lead slip.

Friendlies like this are chiefly a chance to test squad depth rather than to earn points. For Nigeria, the late fightback gives some encouragement ahead of the team's next competitive fixtures, even though the defensive lapses that produced three goals are likely to remain a concern for the coaching staff.