The international friendly between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the reigning world champions Argentina has been abruptly called off.

Reports indicate that the cancellation is attributed to the insufficient time available to process visas for the Nigerian delegation.

Initially slated to take place in China, the venue was shifted to the United States of America following a disagreement between Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, and Chinese authorities.

This unforeseen development has left football enthusiasts disappointed, as the clash between the Super Eagles and Argentina was eagerly awaited.

As an alternative arrangement, Argentina has swiftly scheduled a friendly match against Costa Rica to fill the void left by the cancellation. In addition to this fixture, Los Albiceleste have another friendly encounter lined up against El Salvador in March, showcasing their commitment to international preparation.

On the Nigerian side, the cancellation poses a challenge as they must now search for a new opponent to sharpen their skills ahead of the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Nigeria is set to face South Africa and Benin Republic in June, and the absence of the anticipated clash with Argentina will undoubtedly impact their preparations for these important matches.