Sergei Kutuzov, forward for the media football club 10, expressed strong disappointment after a friendly match where the Russian side drew with Kenya. His message, shared via a telegram channel, reflected his shock at the team’s performance and his belief that the outcome risked embarrassment for the squad.
Kutuzov wrote that he had decided to watch the national team, tuning in for 37 minutes. The reaction he described went beyond surprise. He suggested that if the team cannot compete with the Kenyan side, it might be wiser not to take the field at all rather than risk further humiliation.
The match, played at Titanic Mardan Stadium in Turkey, finished 2 to 2. Kenya opened the scoring through Anthony Akumu in the 16th minute and Masoud Juma added a second before the halftime whistle. Russia responded with goals from Alexander Sobolev in the 8th minute and Ivan Oblyakov in the 89th to secure a draw.
A text-based online broadcast of the game was later edited for publication by a sports news outlet, providing a concise recap of the key moments and individual performances.
Earlier in October, the Russian national team achieved a 1 to 0 victory over Cameroon in a friendly match, with Fedor Chalov scoring the decisive goal for Russia.
On the international stage, the Russian national team and all Russian clubs faced sanctions in the spring of 2022. The decision, announced by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), suspended Russia from competitions organized by these bodies until further notice.
Former Russian national team players have voiced critical assessments of the team’s performance in recent outings, reflecting a period of challenge and adjustment for the squad.