ARGENTINA
Confirmed: Argentina set to face Nigeria and Ivory Coast in March
The world champions will face both African nations in the FIFA international window next March with the games scheduled to be staged in China.
Argentina are heading to China in March during the next international break and have confirmed their opponents for the two friendly games they will play. Firstly, Lionel Scaloni’s team will face Nigeria at the Olympics Sports Center Stadium in the city of Hangzhou with the second match set to be against Ivory Coast at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing. The Argentine FA (AFA) announced that exact dates and kick-off times would be confirmed in due course.
Both Nigeria and Ivory Coast are two of the powerhouses in African football with both nations progressing to the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations that is currently ongoing in Ivory Coast. The Elephants are hosts and sneaked into the Round of 16 as a third placed side but delivered a major shock after the elimination of holders Senegal on a shootout to progress.
Nigeria have come up against the Albiceleste in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups with the South Americans winning on both counts in victories which were far from easy.
Both games will serve Scaloni as solid preparation tests as Argentina looks to defend their Copa America throne next summer.
Copa America planning
The 2024 Copa America gets underway in June and will be staged in the United States. Argentina are the top seed in Group A which also includes Peru, Chile and Canada or Trinidad and Tobago with both CONCACAF sides set to battle it out in a March playoff to see who will progress to the Copa and face Argentina in the inaugural match at the Copa América with the contest set to be played at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.