The president of the Russian Football Union, Alexander Dyukov, spoke about plans to find a rival for the Russian national team in November and explored the possibility of playing against teams from Zanzibar and Seychelles. His comments appear to guide ongoing coverage in Sports Express.
Dyukov emphasized a strong desire to host these fixtures. He noted ongoing discussions with representatives from several countries and expressed hope that the matches would take place on Russian soil. He added that negotiations were also taking place on the African continent as part of a broader outreach.
In spring of 2022, FIFA and UEFA suspended the participation of the Russian national team and all Russian clubs in competitions under their governance. This move created a period of interruption for Russia’s football programs in international arenas.
During the autumn break, the Russian team organized two training encounters. The side opened with a 1-0 win over Cameroon in Moscow, followed by a 2-2 draw with Valery Karpin’s squad and the Kenyan national team at the Turkish Hotels stadium. The late equalizer came in the 89th minute, underscoring a sense of resilience and tactical experimentation during the break.
At the start of 2023, the Russian team played two matches against the Egyptian U21 squad, finishing the first game level at 1-1 and losing the second by a narrow margin. Meanwhile, Karpin’s team secured a victory over Iraq and also settled for draws with Qatar and Iran, each result reflecting the team’s development under evolving leadership and preparation strategies.
Dyukov previously commented on Belarusian clubs’ integration into the Russian football championship, expressing questions about how such a process could be implemented and highlighting the challenges involved in aligning league structures and competitive standards across neighboring regions.