Nigeria’s national Under 20 team; the Flying Eagles have been drawn to face World powerhouses Brazil and Italy in the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Under 20 World Cup (FIFAU20WC) starting next month.
In the draws conducted on Friday evening at the House of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, the Flying Eagles, coached by veteran trainer Ladan Bosso were drawn in Group D alongside Brazil, Italy and the Dominican Republic.
Brazil have won the FIFAU20WC five times, only one time short of record winners Argentina (six titles) who will be hosting this year’s tournament.
The Flying Eagles’ other opponents Italy had their best position in the tournament in 2017 when they finished third in South Korea and also reached the semi final two years later in Poland, a competition which Nigeria exited at the round of sixteen.
The Dominican Republic by their qualification for this tournament are qualifying for their first ever U20 World Cup and indeed their first ever FIFA tournament.
The Flying Eagles are scheduled to give the Dominicans their baptism of fire in the tournament on May 21 before Bosso’s boys will face Italy and then Brazil within the next six days.
The Nigerian team opened camp earlier this week in Abuja ahead of the championship which will take place between 20 May and 11 June in Argentina.
It will be recalled that the South American nation were named as hosts after FIFA stripped Indonesia of hosting rights last month due to political protests against Israel.
Argentina 2023 Group stage pairings
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
