Messi, Mascherano Out of Nigeria/Argentina Tie.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has assured that the Argentina Football Association would present its senior team players in the international friendly against the Super Eagles in Abuja on 1st June.

NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu said the Federation was not unaware of insinuations and speculations in the media about the quality of the team that the South American nation would bring to Abuja.

But he insisted that the two-time world champions would come with senior team players of note.

“The truth is, Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano are playing in the UEFA Champions League final for FC Barcelona against Manchester United FC at the Wembley on 28th May. That is the day the Argentina team would depart from Buenos Aires for Nigeria, so naturally, you wouldn’t expect those two players to be on the trip.

“The Argentina team has a new coach, in the person of Sergio Batista, and is preparing for the Copa America taking place in July, and which that country is hosting. Therefore, you would expect that the new Coach would want to blood a number of new players and see if they can fit into this tactics and team plans. That is why there are a number of new players in the team.

“But the Argentina list that I have seen is replete with ‘A’ team players who ply their trade in top leagues in Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, Russia, Ukraine and the like. We are assuring that Argentina would present its very best possible, apart from Messi and Mascherano who are obviously out due to the Champions League final.

“We must continue to commend Guinness for bringing this match here and should not do anything to disparage the game in the build or discourage the company. Come Wednesday, 1st June, both Nigeria and Argentina would present ‘A’ teams to play this high-profile game”, said Amadu.

According to him, the duo of Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano would not be available for the friendly because they are playing in the UEFA Champions League final for FC Barcelona against Manchester United FC at the Wembley on 28th May.

He added that the Argentina team would depart from Buenos Aires for Nigeria on the 28th of this month for the match; hence the reason Messi and Mascheron would not honour the match.

He said Argentina new coach, Sergio Batista, was preparing for the Copa America taking place in July, and it is expected that the coach would want to include a number of new players to see if they can fit into his tactics and team plans.

He said the Argentina submitted to the NFF was replete with ‘A’ team players who ply their trade in top leagues in Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, Russia, Ukraine, assuring that that Argentina would present its very best possible, apart from Messi and Mascherano who are obviously out due to the Champions League final.