Good news for the Super Eagles as Messi faceoff remains on track

Nigeria’s clash against Lionel Messi’s Argentina is set to go ahead despite reports stating that the match has been cancelled. 

Pulse Sports had earlier reported that the world champions would face the three-time African champions in an international friendly in China next month. 

However, the match was thrown into doubt after China revealed they would not be hosting the game due to Messi’s decision not to play in Inter Miami’s pre-season friendly match in Hong Kong. 

Messi received backlash from Hong Kong fans after he failed to play a single minute in Inter Miami’s clash against Hong Kong XI.

The backlash increased after Messi played in Inter Miami’s clash against Vissel Kobe in Japan days after leaving Hong Kong. 

As a result, China decided against hosting Argentina’s clash against Nigeria, leaving the match in doubt. 

However, the match is set to go ahead as there is a verbal agreement between the two federations to play the game. 

According to Leopardizo via Albiceleste Talk, Argentina are currently looking for a new venue for the clash, with the  United States, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India among the list of possible venues. 

The date for the match is likely to remain March 17, although nothing is confirmed yet. The clash will be Nigeria’s first match since they lost to Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Ironically, Ivory Coast will also face Argentina during that window, days after Nigeria’s clash against the world champions. 

This will be the tenth high-level match between Nigeria and the Argentine national team, with the latter leading the head-to-head. 

In particular, their five World Cup meetings have resulted in victories for the Albiceleste (2-1 in 1994, 1-0 in 2002, 1-0 in 2010, 3-2 in 2014, and 2-1 in 2018).

The other win came in a friendly match in 2011 when Argentina won 3-1 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The only ever draw was in the King Fahd Cup (0-0) in 1995. Argentina’s two losses were in friendlies in Abuja in 2011 and most recently a 2-4 defeat at Krasnodar,  Russia, in 2017.