Costa Rica will now face Nigeria in a friendly in November as part of their preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Los Ticos visit the Middle East for their sixth Fifa tournament.
Luis Fernando Suarez’s side will head to Qatar to take on Spain, Japan and Germany in the group stage. Fifa drew Cost Rica in arguably the group of death, Group E, with matches on November 23, 27 and December 1. They have advanced from the first round twice before.
- WORLD CUP: ONE PLAYER TO WATCH FROM ALL 32 NATIONS AT QATAR
- WORLD CUP: TOURNAMENT RECORD OF FRANCE ICON ZINEDINE ZIDANE
Costa Rica last made it past the group stage at a World Cup in 2014 with their only quarter-final so far. The tournament represented the Central American country’s best finish at a Fifa event, eclipsing a Round of 16 finish in 1990 and group stage exits in 2002, 2006 and 2018.
Nigeria failed to qualify for a seventh World Cup and the first to be held in the Middle East. The Super Eagles lost to Ghana on away goals after drawing the second leg of their third-round play-off 1-1. They had drawn the opening meeting 0-0 during ties played this March.
Costa Rica will now meet Nigeria in preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Costa Rica have now strengthened their plans ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a friendly against Nigeria. Los Ticos will host the Super Eagles in their capital city, San Jose, on November 9. The fixture at the National Stadium will kick off at 20:00 CST (02:00 GMT).
Jairo Pachon, the Fifa match agent of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has confirmed Costa Rica invited the Super Eagles to play in the international friendly. It is Los Ticos’ final tie ahead of the World Cup after friendlies with South Korea and Uzbekistan in September.
“Nigeria have been invited to the Central American nation as part of major activities to send forth the Los Ticos to the Fifa World Cup finals in Qatar,” he told The Guardian of Nigeria.
While Nigeria are not playing in the Qatar tournament, they will also aid Portugal’s efforts ahead of the World Cup. The Super Eagles were already scheduled to meet the Selecao in Lisbon on November 17, a week before Portugal open Group H against Ghana on the 24th.
Costa Rica and Portugal can benefit from taking on Nigeria with the Super Eagles brimming with stars. Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City, Ajax ace Calvin Bassey and Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze are just some of their stars.
Friendlies with Costa Rica and Portugal ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will also aid Nigeria’s plans for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Super Eagles continue their bid to enter the next AFCON edition with two ties against Guinea-Bissau at the close of March.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
