World champions France will play Ivory Coast and South Africa in a pair of March friendlies, the French football federation confirmed on Friday. France host the Ivorians on Friday, 25 March in Marseille and Bafana Bafana four days later (Tuesday, 29 March) in Lille, their first games against African opponents since a 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast in November 2016. Ivory Coast lost on penalties to Egypt in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), while South Africa failed to qualify. Both countries have also been eliminated from 2022 Soccer World Cup qualifying.It will be the first time Fr…