Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic has revealed that his team will face an African side in an international friendly to prepare for their massive opening Group D clash against the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the next year’s World Cup in Russia.

The said Croatia-Nigeria game will take place at the Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad.

Speaking about his side’s plans ahead of the World Cup in a chat with Sportske Novosti. Dalic said: “I do not think that Croatia has any benefit from playing the so-called small games with weak rivals.”

”We have four or five goals, and I do not see anything. I want to see players in difficult matches, what’s going to happen at the World Cup.

”Give us all our players to be healthy and ready for those games. This will be a real test for us.

”Then we can prepare for June, for two more games. One must certainly be with the African team for Nigeria.” he concluded.

The 1998 World Cup bronze medalists are expected to play two friendly games against fellow finalists Peru and Mexico in March in the United States while the Eagles will also play an international friendly against Poland during the same international window.