Argentina Take A Page Out Of NFF's Book; Sampaoli Visits Manchester Based Stars

Nigeria's World Cup rivals Argentina will no longer face Nicaragua in an international friendly before leaving for Barcelona, where they will hold a training camp ahead of the mundial.

Ole Diario Deportivo writes that due to the anti-government protests in Nicaragua, the two-time world champions are likely to face Haiti at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires on May 29 and the second option is Jamaica.

The Argentina Football Association have taken a page out of the Nigerian Federation's book, as they want supporters of the national team to feast their eyes on the players before the World Cup.

The Super Eagles will trade tackles with Democratic Republic of Congo at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium Port Harcourt on May 28 before flying to England for a glamour friendly against the Three Lions at Wembley.

Meanwhile, Argentina coach Jorge Luis Sampaoli was in Manchester two days ago for talks with four players certain to make his 23-man squad for the World Cup, Manchester United's Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero plus City duo Sergio Aguero and Nicolás Otamendi.

He had a video call with Ramiro Funes Mori ahead of Everton's Premier League match against Huddersfield Town.

Nigeria and Argentina will face off for the fifth time in the group stage of the World Cup at Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26.

Igho Kingsley