The President of Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) Mehdi Taj has confirmed that Team Melli will play Sierra Leone this Saturday at Azadi Stadium in western Tehran.

In a statement Taj stated that the Leone Stars replaced Libya who withdrew from the friendly after their foreign-based players were not allowed to join their national team.

Taj also added that the national team will also play two other African opponents namely Tunisia and Algeria at different dates.

“Iran will face Tunisia on March 23 in Tunisia and then meet Algeria in our training camp in Austria,” Taj said.

Carlos Queiroz’s men prepare for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where they have been drawn with Spain, Morocco and Portugal in Group B.

Iran will open the campaign with a match against Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15.

Team Melli, meanwhile, face Spain in Kazan on 20 June before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Saransk five days later.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 14 to July 15. Russia will open the event against Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities