Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire to face Lionel Messi’s Argentina after AFCON

Nigeria and Argentina are familiar foes, and they are set to lock horns soon

The Argentina Football Association have announced two international friendlies against Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire later in March this year, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nigeria and Ivory Coast are battling to become Africa Cup of Nations champions. Both countries have reached the quarter-finals of the competition as Nigeria defeated Cameroon, while the Elephants defeated defending champions Senegal.

The AFCON is set to end in February, but some countries already have plans to play more games after the competition. On Tuesday, the Argentine national team announced two friendlies against Nigeria and Ivory Coast. The two games will take place in Argentina’s tour of Asia, which is scheduled for March.

Nigeria and Argentina are familiar foes. The last three times that the Super Eagles have made the World Cup, they have been drawn in the same group with Argentine. However, Nigeria have always been second-best.

The friendly encounter in March promises to be a star-studded one, as Argentina boasts of world beaters like Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Angel Di Maria, and Enzo Fernandez.

The Super Eagles also have a few stars like Victor Osimhena and Ademola Lookman. Coach Jose Peseiro would still be without Victor Boniface, who is out with an injury till April.