THE Flying Eagles have been placed in one of the toughest groups of the FIFA U-20 World Cup taking place in Argentina from May 20 to June 11 this year.
The draw was held today in Switzerland and the Nigerians are in Group D with Brazil, Italy and the Dominican Republic.
Hosts Argentina are in Group A with Guatemala, Uzbekistan and New Zealand, while African champions Senegal have to contend with Japan, Israel and Colombia in Group C.
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations finalists Gambia are in Group F with France, Korea Republic and Honduras, with Africa’s fourth representatives Tunisia in Group E alongside Uruguay, Iraq and 2017 champions England.
The tournament will have 24 teams participating, with the top two from the six groups and four third-placed sides advancing to the round of 16.
Brazil have the richest pedigree in Nigeria’s group, having won the tournament five times, the last triumph coming in 2011.
They have also finished runners-up four times, making them the second most successful team in the competition’s history.
Hosts Argentina are the most successful side in the competition since the inaugural edition in Tunisia in 1977. The South Americans have won the tournament six times, the last one in 2007. They also hosted the competition 22 years ago.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have finished as runners-up on two occasions, in Saudi Arabia in 1989 and in The Netherlands in 2005. They were bronze medallists in the USSR in 1985.
GROUPINGS
GROUP A:
Argentina, Uzbekistan, Guatemala, New Zealand
GROUP B:
USA, Ecuador, Fiji Islands, Slovakia
GROUP C:
Senegal, Japan, Israel, Colombia
GROUP D:
Italy, Brazil, Nigeria, Dominican Republic
GROUP E:
Uruguay, Iraq, England, Tunisia
GROUP F:
France, Korea Republic, The Gambia, Honduras
