Messi, Others To Play Nigeria In Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Football Federation has made it clear that both Nigeria and Argentina will come to Dhaka for the September 6 friendly with full squads.

The Bangladesh Football Federation has signed a $4 million contract with both sides for the prestige game and President Kazi Salahuddin said that that mandates both sides to field their strongest squads, including Lionel Messi

“Our $4 million contract with both sides says the Argentina team must include Messi,” he said. “The sight of Messi playing on our soil will be the best thing to have happened to Bangladesh football in many years. It will inspire a lot of boys to play football.”

Nigeria beat Argentina 4-1 earlier this month in Abuja, although the victory has been shadowed by a FIFA investigation into betting patterns around the fifth goal, which Argentina scored from a highly dubious penalty eight minutes into what should have been five minutes of additional time.

The Bangladesh game has been organised by India-based firm Celebrity Management Group, who have also set up a match between Argentina and Venezuela in Kolkata on September 2.