Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will know their 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup opponents today when the draw is made at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
The Ladan Bosso-led team, who qualified for the global soccer showpiece after finishing in third place at the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Egypt last month, are in Pot 3 alongside Uzbekistan, Japan, Iraq, Honduras and Fiji.
Following their below par performance at the U-20 AFCON, the Nigeria Football Federation has charged Bosso’s team to win the tournament and the coach has invited over 30 players to a training camp to begin their final preparations for the tournament in Argentina.
Argentina will host this year’s edition from May 20 to June 11, after replaced Indonesia who was stripped of the hosting rights just weeks before kick-off.
“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.
A total of twenty-four countries will be drawn into six groups of four with matches taking place in yet-to-be-confirmed venues.
Other African representatives to the tournament are African champions Senegal, Gambia and Tunisia. Senegal are pot 1, while Gambia and Tunisia are in pot 2.
The pots for today’s draw are :
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
