Nigeria's World Cup Rivals Croatia To Face African Opposition In June

Nigeria's World Cup rivals Croatia have lined up a friendly with an African team, few days before they step out onto the pitch for their first game in the mundial at Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad against the Super Eagles.

The 1998 World Cup bronze medalists will  will play two friendly matches against Peru and Mexico in March in the United States.

''I do not think that Croatia has any benefit from playing the so-called. small games with weak rivals,'' Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić said to Sportske Novosti.
 
''We have four or five goals, and I do not see anything. I want to see players in difficult matches, what's going to happen at the World Cup.

''Give us all our players to be healthy and ready for those games. This will be a real test for us.

''Then we can prepare for June, for two more games. One must certainly be with the African team for Nigeria. ''

It is all but confirmed that the Super Eagles will trade tackles with Eastern Europeans Poland on March 23 to prepare the national team for their World Cup opener against Croatia.

Igho Kingsley