Super Eagles to play South American World Cup participants in friendly

Super Eagles of Nigeria will not be playing at the World Cup but may have attracted a World Cup-participating opponent in a top friendly game

Ecuador has listed the Super Eagles of Nigeria as one of its oppositions for a friendly game in June as it prepares for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

According to Ecuadorian radio station, Radio La Red, the South Americans who have qualified for the World Cup just for the fourth time will play Nigeria, Mexico and Tunisia in friendly games.

They will also face Saudi Arabia and Japan before their first World Cup game against Croatia.

The Super Eagles, Soccernet earlier reported had also been lined up in a friendly game by another World Cup participant, Mexico.

The Nigerian male senior national team last faced Ecuador in 2004 in the now-defunct LG Cup third place match. Goals by Kola Ademola and Victor Ezeji saw the Ecuadorians hold the Super Eagles in Abuja before defeating Nigeria on penalties 4-3.

The Super Eagles are yet to have a new coach after former coach, Austin Eguavoen stepped down following his failure to tinker the team to a World Cup appearance. The rest of the coaching crew were also dismissed by the Nigeria Football Federation.

A number of foreign coaches have been lined up to take the Nigerian job with the federation expected to name a new coach in the coming weeks.

Nigeria lost the World Cup ticket to the Black Stars of Ghana in March after losing out on the away goal rule.