SAN FRANCISCO, December 19, (THEWILL) –Â England has concluded arrangement for an international friendly against the Super Eagles of Nigeria as part of its preparations for 2018 World Cup.
The Super Eagles will be one of two opponents for England, the other likely to be against Latin American opposition, before they depart for Russia as Engalnd has scheduled two international friendlies before the commencement of the Russia 2018 World Cup in June.
The Football Association wanted the Three Lions to face an African opposition ahead of their World Cup opener against Tunisia in Volgograd on 18 June.
They had considered facing Ghana or Senegal, who they could face in the last-16 depending on their standings in the groups but chose Nigeria, with a popular following thought to have been a factor behind the decision.
England will make the announcement official once their second June friendly has been confirmed.
After playing the two friendlies, Gareth Southgate and his squad will fly to Russia and to their training base in Repino, a town just north of St Petersburg, towards the Finnish border.
Then they will head to Volgograd to face Tunisia, Nizhny Novgorod for Panama and Kaliningrad to play Belgium on 28 June.
