Rangers star Emmanuel Fernandez set for bizarre Russia clash despite UEFA suspension
Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez is set to face Russia with Nigeria on Tuesday despite the Russian national team remaining suspended from UEFA competitions.
Fernandez has travelled with the Super Eagles for their international friendly against Russia and was among 17 players involved in Nigeria’s opening training session in Nizhny Novgorod on Saturday.
The Rangers centre-back is part of Eric Chelle’s squad for the fixture at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, with Nigeria stepping up preparations for their second meeting with Russia in 16 months.
Russian UEFA blanket ban
The match is particularly notable because Russia remain excluded from UEFA competitions.
The suspension dates back to February 2022, when FIFA and UEFA announced that Russian clubs and national teams would be suspended from their competitions until further notice following their government’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, that suspension does not prevent Russia from arranging or playing international friendlies outside UEFA competition and that is precisely the situation Fernandez finds himself in this week.
Nigeria's meeting with Russia is an international friendly rather than a UEFA tournament fixture, with the Nigerian Football Federation confirming the game for Tuesday, October 6. The two nations previously met in Moscow in June 2025, playing out a 1-1 draw after a Semi Ajayi own goal gave the hosts the lead before Tolu Arokodare equalised.
Fernandez set for Nigeria cap
Fernandez has already joined up with the Nigerian squad and was one of the defenders involved in Saturday's first training session.
The Rangers defender's inclusion comes during a period in which his standing at Ibrox has been strengthened.
Fernandez has been a regular starter for Derek McInnes this season, with his partnership alongside Olwethu Makhanya attracting attention after some early-season criticism. Recent Nigerian coverage has highlighted the pair's improvement and Fernandez's continued development at Rangers.
Makhanya himself will face Egypt on Sunday, who are facing their own 'crisis' involving Mohamed Salah.
Nigeria are coming into the fixture looking for a response after their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their latest 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Russia game gives Chelle the chance to assess his squad in a very different environment, while Fernandez will be hoping to add another international appearance to his growing experience in what is an unusual international assignment: a Rangers player representing Nigeria against a Russian side that remains barred from UEFA's competitive football, but which continues to play friendly matches during the international windows.
And with Fernandez already training with the squad, he is firmly in contention to feature when the two sides meet at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
