China’s Hangzhou Sports Bureau has also announced the cancellation of the first match against Nigeria on March 18. In the end, this situation has raised concerns about whether Messi’s visit to China will see the light of day or not.
Four months later, the centenary tournament Copa America will be held in the United States. The teams have started to organize their plans around this fight in the Latin American region. The reigning champions of the tournament and the world champions Argentina have also arranged their plans.
They are also focused on preparation before entering the fight for continental supremacy. Due to which Lionel Messi is waiting to play two friendly matches in China next March. Where the two finalists of the respective African Nations Cup are Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
Argentina have a good chance to test their strength by playing against these two teams who are in great rhythm before the Copa America. But there is concern about whether the two friendly matches will be played in the end or not.
China’s Hangzhou Sports Bureau has already announced the cancellation of the first match against Nigeria on March 18. In the end, this situation has raised concerns about whether Messi’s visit to China will see the light of day or not.
Recently, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) officially announced that these two friendly matches will be played. Argentina will face Nigeria in the first match at the Hangzhou Olympics Sports Center Stadium on March 18 and Ivory Coast at the Workers Stadium in Beijing on Tuesday, March 26.
However, according to several media reports, the Hangzhou Sports Bureau has backed off from organizing the match due to Lionel Messi not playing in the friendly match for Inter Miami in Hong Kong. Despite not playing in Hong Kong, Messi played 30 minutes against Japanese club Vissel Kobe. Which has angered Hong Kong football fans even more.
“As a commercial event, a company and the Argentina football team decided to play a friendly match in Hangzhou in March,” the Hangzhou Sports Bureau said. But the reasons are known to all and we have also learned from the supervising authorities that the friendly match is not in a condition to be organised. That is why we have decided to cancel the match.
An AFA official said they are aware of the cancellation of the match. That is why they are trying to arrange the match against Nigeria elsewhere. The official said on condition of anonymity, “The matter is sensitive.”
Even if the match against Nigeria is called off, the match against Ivory Coast in Beijing will go ahead as planned, Ivoricos spokesman Anne-Marie N’Guesan said. If the entire tour is cancelled, Argentina said it would try to move the two matches elsewhere.
