Nigeria, England plan pre-World Cup friendly

The English Football Association (FA) are considering a proposal from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for an international friendly ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation Mohammed Sanusi has stated that they are planning to play a friendly against the Three Lions in June, before the World Cup.

However, the English FA have yet to confirm whether Nigeria are one of their opponents before their first match at the World Cup against one of Africa’s representatives Tunisia.

Gareth Southgate and the FA are aware that a match against Nigeria will provide England with an opportunity to know what to expect from Tunisia at the World Cup.

If an agreement is reached, it would be the third time Nigeria has faced England’s senior team, the Super Eagles narrowly lost 1-0 to England in a friendly in 1994 and faced them in the 2002 World Cup, in a match that ended in a goalless draw.

German tactician Gernot Rohr earlier reiterated the plans behind organizing top profile games for the national team next year before the World Cup.