President of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio Tapia, has hinted that manager Jorge Sampaoli will hand a recall to the prolific Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuaín ahead of the 2018 World Cup in the wake of the national team's 4-2 loss to Nigeria in an international friendly on November 14.

The South Americans had been leading 2-1 but crumbled in the second half of the clash in Krasnodar and Tapia has blamed the defeat on the forced substitution of Man City's Sergio Aguero, who could not come out for the second half due to illness.

''The Argentine group has to be respected, but within all, it can be accessible. We're happy because we're not going to have to travel a lot in the first phase,'' Tapia told Radio Continental, according to TyC Sports.

''The friendly with Nigeria I take as an example of what not to do. I think everything changed that day when he left Agüero.

''I have no doubt that Sampaoli is going to call (Gonzalo) Higuain.''

Higuain started Argentina's games against Nigeria at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, he scored and provided an assist in a friendly against the African side in September 2011.

The former Real Madrid star  has not been summoned for the last seven matches contested by Argentina including friendlies.

Igho Kingsley