Argentina schedule three friendlies following Lionel Messi’s international retirement

Argentina will play three international friendlies against Benin, Burkina Faso and Bolivia during the September and October international window.

The break will run from 21 September until 6 October, with the World Cup runners-up set to face each of the three African opponents during that period.

Argentina’s first fixture will be against Bolivia on Wednesday, 30 September at the Mario Kempes Stadium.

They will then meet Burkina Faso at River Plate’s stadium on Saturday, 3 October, before completing the schedule against Benin on Tuesday, 6 October.

The Bolivia match will be Argentina’s first without Lionel Messi since he announced his retirement from international football last month.

Argentina have continued to arrange friendly matches against African opposition in recent times. Before the upcoming fixtures, they faced Angola, Mauritania and Zambia.