Ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup which kicks off on May 20, the draw will be held in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday, the 21st of April, and Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will learn their opponents for the tournament.
There are going to be six groups of four each. The top two teams will qualify from each group accompanied by the best four third-placed teams, Soccernet reports.
After placing third at the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Egypt last month, the Flying Eagles earned a spot in the World Cup.
Together with Uzbekistan, Japan, Iraq, Honduras, and Fiji, the Flying Eagles have been placed in Pot 3.
FIFA released the procedures for the draw on its official website on Thursday.
The Flying Eagles being in Pot 3, means that they can face teams like Argentina, England, Uruguay, Italy, France, Brazil, Ecuador, and USA.
According to Ripples Nigeria, Ladan Bosso, the coach of the Flying Eagles, has invited 39 players to a training camp to begin their last preparations for the competition in Argentina.
Chijioke Aniagboso and Daniel Bameyi, who were invited to the 2023 Super Eagles, are among the players who have been invited.
Argentina will host the event this year from May 20 to June 11 after FIFA revoked Indonesia’s hosting rights. The World Cup was initially set to hold in Indonesia, but the world football governing body, FIFA, moved it to Argentina because of political issues between Indonesia and Israel.
Argentina, who initially failed to qualify for the tournament, will now take part in the event in place of Indonesia since they had been given the hosting rights.
“FIFA is delighted to announce that this year’s edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup will take place in Argentina, as the home of the world champions opens its doors to tomorrow’s superstars of world football,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
Twenty-four nations in total will be divided into six groups of four, with matches taking place in as-yet-unconfirmed locations.
The 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup begins on May 20 and concludes on June 11.
The Flying Eagles have never won the competition. But coach Isah Ladan Bosso would hope that his boys can win the trophy in Argentina.
POTS
Pot 1 – Argentina, Uruguay, USA, France, Senegal, Italy
Pot 2 – England, Korea Republic, New Zealand, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia
Pot 3 – Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Japan, Iraq, Honduras, Fiji
Pot 4 – Guatemala, Dominican Republic, The Gambia, Israel, Slovakia, Tunisia
