FC Krasnodar winger Olakunle Olusegun has revealed he helped his Super Eagles teammates navigate their brief trip to Russia by teaching them basic Russian phrases ahead of Nigeria’s recent friendly against the Russian national team in Moscow.
Olusegun, who recently played a pivotal role in Krasnodar’s league title triumph, made his senior debut for Nigeria during the match, coming on as a late substitute for Christantus Uche. Speaking with Russian media outlet Championat, the 23 year old said he taught teammates simple phrases such as “How are you?” and “Good” to ease communication during their stay.
When asked whether he also shared any slang or curse words, he laughed and denied it “Bad words? No, no. Not that (laughs).”
Olusegun was called up to the national team following injury-related withdrawals and was widely considered a natural replacement due to his strong performances in the Russian Premier League. In the 2024/25 season, he made 19 league appearances and scored twice, helping Krasnodar beat giants Zenit St. Petersburg to the title.
Despite his success, speculation surrounds his future at Krasnodar, with several English Championship clubs reportedly monitoring him ahead of a possible summer move.
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Editorial
Olakunle Olusegun’s international debut wasn’t just a moment of personal pride it was also a snapshot of football’s global fabric. A Nigerian thriving in Russia, teaching his national teammates a few words to bridge cultures, and representing the country he calls home it’s exactly the kind of story that gives international football its depth.
This small gesture teaching “How are you?” in Russian may seem light-hearted, but it’s deeply symbolic. In a world where global movement is often met with suspicion, Olusegun used language as a connector. Football is often about goals, assists, and stats, but sometimes, it’s also about humility, shared experience, and finding familiarity in unfamiliar places.
And that brings us to his future. With interest from English clubs growing, Olusegun must now decide whether to stay in the league where he has made history or take the leap into a new challenge. Wherever he goes next, one thing is clear he brings more than just pace and creativity he brings character.
Nigeria, too, must seize this moment. Players like Olusegun, seasoned in foreign leagues yet still hungry, are assets to the national team. His debut must not be a cameo. It should be the beginning of a long-term role in the Super Eagles setup.
Did You Know?
- Olakunle Olusegun is one of the few Nigerians to win a top-flight European league title in Russia.
- He played youth football at ABS FC in Nigeria before moving to Europe to join FDC Vista Gelendzhik and later Krasnodar.
- Krasnodar’s 2024/25 title win was their first-ever Russian Premier League crown.
- The Russian word Olusegun taught his teammates for “How are you?” is “Kak dela?”.
- Olusegun was previously part of Nigeria’s U-17 World Cup squad in 2019, where he scored three goals in four matches.
