Africa learn opponents in 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup as Nigeria face Brazil and Italy, Senegal face Japan while Tunisia face England
Nigeria have been drawn in Group D of the 2023 FIFA U20 World along with football powerhouses Brazil and Italy.
After the FIFA U20 World Cup draw, Nigeria now know who they will face in the group stage of the world youth championship that will take place in early May in Argentina.
The African side will take on European side Italy, South American giants Brazil and Minos Dominican Republic in what happens to be group of death.
The World Cup draw was help in Zurich, Switzerland as qualified teams were presented their opponents with Nigeria been handed second most successful country Brazil.
Group D
- Italy
- Brazil
- Nigeria
- Dominican Republic
Nigeria have failed to win the FIFA U20 World with their best performance coming as runners up in 1989 against Portugal and 2005 against Argentina in finals.
The other African representatives, Senegal and Tunisia have been drawn into Group C and Group E respectively.
Ghana is the only African nation to win the tournament after beating Brazil on penalties in Egypt 2009.
Reigning TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal were drawn as the top seed in Group C alongside Asian giants Japan, the South American campaigners Colombia, and debutants Israel.
The Teranga Cubs qualified for their fourth FIFA U-20 World Cup earlier this year when they impressively won the TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON for the first time in Egypt without conceding a goal.
Senegal have gone past the group stages in each of their three previous appearances. Senegal’s best performance came in their tournament debut in 2015 in New Zealand where they finished fourth place.
Tunisia ended their 38-year absence when they survived a marathon quarterfinal contest against Congo to book their place in the tournament.
Adel Sellimi guided the young Eagles of Carthage to their third FIFA U-20 World Cup to set up intriguing Group E matches against Uruguay, Iraq, and former winners England.
The North Africans will have to navigate their way from the group with 16 teams guaranteed a place in the knockout phase.
The Gambia’s Young Scorpions will fancy their chances in Group F following their spirited performance in Egypt.
The boys from the ‘Smiling Coast of Africa’ will be making their second appearance in the tournament. They reached the knockout stages in 2007 in Canada before bowing out to Austria.
Coach Abdoulie Bojang guided the Young Scorpions to their first-ever TotalEnergies AFCON U-20 final in March and with the likes of Adama Bojang, Salifu Colley, and Kajally Drammeh on his side he will fancy his chances.
They will play former champions France, Korea Republic, and Honduras.
Full draw:
Group A: Argentina, Uzbekistan, Guatemala, New Zealand
Group B: USA, Ecuador, Fiji, 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
