Tevez plans to lead Argentina against Eagles in Russia
Former Manchester United star Carlos Tevez is hoping to be named in Argentina’s roster for the 2018 World Cup following his return to Boca Juniors.
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that a prestige friendly match between the Super Eagles and England’s Three Lions will take place at the Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
In Rabat, Morocco, Nigeria home-based Super Eagles are braving the freezing cold ahead of the 2018 CHAN competition, which kicks off tomorrow.
Tevez, 33, has returned to Boca Juniors in his homeland after a very unsuccessful stay at Shanghai Shenhua in China, and this will be the third time in the career that Tevez will play for the Argentine super club.
Tevez is very pleased to be home and has now set the goal of returning to the Argentine team, he last played for La Albiceleste in a World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in October 2015.
‘’I haven’t got many years left of football and to be in a World Cup, for a player of my age it would something beautiful and it would be a sign of recognition too,’’ Tevez told reporters during his presentation as a Boca Juniors player.
Argentina is in the same 2018 World Cup group with Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria.
Tevez went the distance in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup, where he led the frontline along with Gonzalo Higuaín.
The friendly between Super Eagles and England at Wembley on June 2 will be the third between both countries at senior level, and will serve as the Super Eagles’ final preparatory game for the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia, with their first match against Croatia in Kaliningrad coming exactly two weeks after.
NFF 1st Vice President and Chairman of the Federation’s Organizing Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, told thenff.com yesterday: “The match is now confirmed. We had been doing a lot of work in the background, even going back to last year.
“Now, we are happy to say that it is all sealed. Certainly, it is going to be a big match, between two countries of remarkable historical affinity and similarities.
“We have other matches and programs for the team, and we will soon roll out the entire plan for matches, camping sites and training camps.”
The idea of a friendly game between England and Nigeria in the present dispensation was first mooted in 2015, when NFF President Amaju Pinnick met with then Chairman of The FA, Greg Dyke in London.
Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr said: “This is good news for myself and the entire team. England is a very strong team presently and I believe they will give us a very good match. We will be able to test our readiness for the World Cup when we meet the Three Lions at Wembley.”
While the Super Eagles play Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in Group D, the Three Lions are up against Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G in Russia.
Meanwhile, the CHAN Eagles, who landed in Casablanca for the CHAN competition, made their way to Rabat, where they are battling to stay warm.
