Despite being barred from significant competition and often shunned across much of the globe, Russia remains undeterred in finding players to step onto the field. Over the past year, they’ve shared the pitch with Syria, Belarus, Brunei, Grenada, Vietnam, and Serbia during friendly matches. Iran, Qatar, Cuba, and Iraq were among the opposition before that, and Russia emerged victorious in all of their past seven encounters, netting 31 goals without conceding a single one.

Beyond nations with apparent ties to the Kremlin, several African teams have also taken up the challenge with Russia, who hosted the 2018 World Cup. An Egyptian under-23 side broke the ice in September 2023, six months after the ban imposed on Russia, followed by Cameron and Kenya, who traveled to Moscow and Turkey respectively. Nigeria is set to journey to Russia in June, and Zambia will follow in their footsteps on March 25.

The Zambia Football Association’s Communications Director, Sydney Mungala, has stressed that their match against Russia is simply a friendly and a football decision, devoid of any official game implications. He pointed out that Zambia had initially planned to face Eritrea in a FIFA window but the game was called off due to asylum concerns. Also, the Republic of Congo was banned by FIFA due to third-party involvement in football affairs. For Mungala, playing Russia is also an act of solidarity and a stance against a discriminatory approach to football.

The enduring diplomatic and cultural ties between Zambia and Russia play a significant role in Zambia’s interest to play against a nation largely shunned globally. Although Nigeria has been silent about their upcoming match against Russia, a Nigerian sports producer, Oluwaseun Idowu, clarified that the match doesn’t necessarily mean Nigeria views Russia differently from the rest of the world.

Russia has long utilized soft power in Africa, further strengthened by the fact that many African nations are concerned about the economic fallout of the conflict in Ukraine and vocally support peace efforts. Russia’s growing influence on the continent is evident, as it seeks to expand its relevance and advance its strategic interests in areas of mining, energy, and military presence. The match against Zambia is yet another step in this outreach, occurring despite the absence of Zambian fans due to cost and logistical issues.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/why-are-african-teams-playing-football-against-russia/a-72012391?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf