Nicaragua and Costa Rica to play friendlies before World Cup qualifiers

Nicaragua will be looking to follow in Costa Rica’s footsteps

Managua (Nicaragua), Jan 26 (IANS): Nicaragua's national football team will play three matches against Costa Rica to prepare for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament.

Ildefonso Agurcia, president of the Nicaraguan Football Federation (Fenifut), Sunday said the matches will take place between March 2 and 10, according to a training schedule for the World Cup qualifying tournament, reports Xinhua.

"With the help of coach Henry Duarte, Fenifut is making arrangements with the Costa Rican Federation to carry out this pre-world cup training season," said Agurcia.

Agurcia added that Nicaragua will play a match against Costa Rica's U-20 team as well as teams in the first and second places in local first division league.

Last week, Duarte was presented as the new coach of Nicaragua.