Messi, Tevez, others out of contest

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports Friday, April 1st, 2011

WORLD Footballer of the Year, Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona, Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez and Argentina’s captain, Javier Mascherano, are among the top stars who would not be in the South American country’s line-up when its faces the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a friendly game on June 1.

According to a source close to the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who pleaded anonymity, the trio and some other senior players have been excused from the tour of Africa to enable them rest enough for this summer’s Copa America.

The source disclosed that the NFF tried through Argentina’s match agent, World Eleven, to compel the South Americans to bring their top stars to Nigeria for the game, “but we could not succeed because they said the players would be so tired after the end of the regular season and so they need to rest to be ready for the Copa America.”

He added: “One thing about South Americans, especially Brazil and Argentina, is that they always want to keep their reputation and so go into every game with competitive teams.

“Argentina promised that they would field a tough team against Nigeria to maintain their edge over the Super Eagles, so we still expect a strong game on June 1.

The 45-man Argentina delegation may play against some other African sides on the tour, which the coach is using to look at his options for the Copa America, which he wants to win to cement his position after the exit of the country’s favourite son, Diego Maradona.”

The Super Eagles will meet Argentina on June 1 at the Abuja National Stadium with the aim of stopping the South Americans’ dominion over Nigeria at the senior level. Nigeria and Argentina have met three times at the FIFA World Cup with the South Americans winning all the gameswp_posts