FIFA are satisfied with the arrangement of the friendly game and have given their approval. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) had agreed on Tuesday, November 14 for the friendly game in Krasnodar, a city in Russia where the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be played.
FIFA on Friday, November 3 approved the friendly game which means that it would have an effect in the next FIFA Ranking. Baring last minute changes Nigeria will play its first international friendly match in preparation for next year’s World Cup, on November 14, in Krasnoder, Russia.
World Cup-bound Nigeria choice Argentina in the friendly next month as they were also options to play against Morocco, Iran and Saudi Arabia, NFF official has said.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi who made this know in a chat with an online platform; www.scorenigeria.com explained that all arrangements for the big match have been concluded, except FIFA’s consent.
“We have had long and fruitful talks, and we can say that we have an agreement. We await the approval by FIFA and also, we have to agree on the flight arrangements that would be comfortable for the players and crew,” Sanusi said.
“The match will come up on 14th November, four days after the Super Eagles’ final 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match away to Algeria.
“We had offers from teams like Iran, Saudi Arabia and Morocco but we have opted for the Argentines.”
The Eagles take on Algeria on Friday, November 10, while Argentina will take on World Cup hosts Russia same day in another friendly.
Nigeria and Argentina played two high –profile friendly matches in 2011, the first in Abuja in June ending 4-1 in favour of the Super Eagles.
The Albiceleste won the second encounter 3-1 in Dhaka, Bangladesh three months later.
While Argentina qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia on the final day of the South American qualification campaign, the Super Eagles qualified with a game at hand.
Nigeria have met Argentina in four of their five FIFA World Cup appearances.
This approval was conveyed in a letter dated Tuesday, October 31, directed to the Football Union of Russia, addressed to the General Secretary, Aleksandr Alaev, and signed by FIFA’s Director of Competitions, Christian Unger.
“In accordance with article 7 of the regulations, FIFA is happy to provide official authorization for this men’s tier 1 international match,” part of the letter reads.
There were no fears whether FIFA were going to approve the friendly as the NFF and AFF were confident that they had met all the requirements to host the game.
Ahead of the friendly game, Argentina captain Lionel Messi have been pulled out of the game as requested by Barcelona who have reached an agreement with the AFA.
Argentina have two friendly games in the next international break, against Russia on Friday, November 10, four days before the game against Nigeria.
Barcelona had requested that their star player be featured in just one of the friendlies and Argentina have chosen their captain to play against Russia.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have also been hit with a slew of injuries as Victor Moses and Odion Ighalo have been ruled out.
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