Nigeria set for Messi and World Cup champions Argentina friendly clash in March

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Africa Cup of Nations favourites Nigeria are set to face off with world champions Argentina and Lionel Messi in an international friendly in March.

The Super Eagles are aiming for their fourth crown at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, where they have reached the quarterfinal, where they will take on Angola on Friday.

In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Argentina Football Association announced a friendly with two African teams participating at the AFCON 2023, including AFCON 2023 hosts Cote D’Ivoire.

The two friendly games will take place in March 2024 during one of the FIFA windows.

The venue for the two games is Gira Por in China. The two African teams have qualified for the quarter-final of AFCON 2023 after victories over Cameroon and Senegal respectively.

Nigeria will face Angola in the quarter final while Cote D’Ivoire trade tackles with either Mali or Burkina Faso.

The friendly game was organised in preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers.

The Super Eagles will face South Africa on June 5, 2024, in their next World Cup Qualifiers.