Nigeria in search of March friendly for Super Eagles after Argentina game is called off

NIGERIA's planned friendly against Argentina originally due to take place in China next month has now finally been cancelled after an attempt to reschedule it in the US fell apart over visa requirements for the players.

Originally billed to take place during the next Fifa window, the game was part of Argentina's preparations for the Copa América as was scheduled o take place at China's Olympics Sports Centre in Hangzhouom between March 18  and 26. However, a contractual disagreement between the Chinese hosts and Argentina skipper Lionel Messi led to a cancellation.

However, the match was then moved to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the US and it appeared that the game was back on now for March 26 but the organisers say it can no longer hold. Apparently, there is not enough time to process visas for the Nigerian delegation, sop the organisers gave scrapped the game and Argentina have instead found a replacement opponent in Costa Rica.

Known as Albiceleste, Argentina are the current World champions as well as the Copa America holders. Keen to successfully defend their continental title later this year, the Argentines have also lined up another friendly against El Salvador in March to prepare their team for the task at hand.

Nigeria will now have to look for another opponent as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic coming up in June. Earlier today, the Argentina Football Association issued a statement saying the latest change was caused by administrative problems with visas.

Argentina also has friendlies against Ecuador on June 9 at Chicago’s Soldier Field and Guatemala five days later at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. They will open their Copa América defence against Canada or Trinidad and Tobago on June 20 at Atlanta, then play Chile five days later at East Rutherford, New Jersey and Peru on June 29 at Miami Gardens, Florida.