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| Soccer Super Star Messi |
The Argentine team of soccer super-star Messi arrived here Monday for Tuesday`s friendly international football match with Nigeria.
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| Soccer Super Star Messi |
The team by a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:10am to a hearty welcome by fans and organizers.
The national football team of Argentina led by superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in Dhaka to play a FIFA friendly international against Super Eagle Nigeria.
The South American team reached Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Kolkata at 10:50am on Monday amid tight security in and outside the airport.
They, escorted by police cars, headed straight to the Rupashi Bangla Hotel from the airport.
Hundreds of fans gathered outside the airport to welcome Messi and his team.
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| Soccer Super Star Messi |
Nigeria are also scheduled to fly down to Dhaka by a chartered flight later Monday.
Argentina, a two-time World Cup champion, will go head-to-head in the friendly international against Nigeria, a West African football giant, at 6pm on Tuesday at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The South Americans will practice at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 6:30pm. The practice schedule of the Africans was unclear.
To watch Monday's practice session it will cost fans Tk 1,000 for gallery and Tk 2,000 for VIP gallery tickets.
BFF vice-president Badal Roy said the gallery gates would remain open 3 pm-6pm.
Messi and his team have rocked Kolkata when they beat Venezuela 1-0 in an exhibition match.
Argentina were originally scheduled to come on Sept3.The team's planned practice at the Fatullah Stadium had also been cancelled as the South Americans expressed concern over Dhaka's notorious traffic.
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| Soccer Super Star Messi |
As Bangabandhu National Stadium is the venue for the friendly international and training for three days was not possible, Argentine coach Alejandro Sabella decided to delay arrival by two days from Kolkata.
Home minister Shahara Khatun has said a detailed security measure has been in place to safeguard the teams whose presence has also coincided with a high-profile two-day visit by Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh starting Tuesday.
The Africans will be staying at the Westin Hotel in Gulshan.
They will join Argentina in an official dinner in the evening.
