Key Midfielder All-But Ruled Out Of Argentina-Nigeria Friendly

 Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli is sweating on the fitness of AC Milan star Lucas Biglia ahead of his side's high-profile friendly against three-time African champions Nigeria on November 14 in Russia.

AC Milan have announced via their official webpage  that Biglia is suffering from an inflammation of the patellar tendon of the left knee, and will not be in contention to face AEK Athens (Europa League) and Sassuolo (Serie A) on November 2 and 5 respectively.

''It's already a while that this tendon bothered him and it was painful, but he was a great professional as he always did,'' Team Doctor Mazzoni stated in a medical update.

''Now, however, the pain and the level of inflammation has increased, so we decided to stop it and take some time to cure this tendon.''

Lucas Biglia would have confronted Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel, whom he faced in the final of the 2005 Fifa U20 World Cup in the Netherlands.

Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, who both featured in the final against the Flying Eagles, have been included in the albiceleste team that will face Nigeria in Krasnodar.

Igho Kingsley