Nigeria U20 national team, coached by Ladan Bosso, have discovered the opponents they will face in the group stage of the upcoming 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina.
By Ifeanyi Emmanuel
The Flying Eagles have been drawn in Group D alongside Italy, Brazil and Dominican Republic.
The twenty four qualified countries were placed in six groups of four, with the top two and four best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage.
Nigeria have avoided a strong-looking England team who qualified for the tournament by virtue of winning the 2022 European U19 Championship.
The Young Lions have in their ranks several players of Nigerian descent, with the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka (Chelsea), Owen Goodman (Crystal Palace), Malcolm Ebiowei (Crystal Palace), Daniel Oyegoke (Brentford), Tim Iroegbunam (Aston Villa), Sam Edozie (Southampton) and Tobi Oluwayemi (Celtic) all having caps for the age group.
Nigeria have come up against Brazil five times in previous editions of the World Cup with the Flying Eagles losing four while drawing the other other game, while they were beaten 2-0 by the Italians in Canada 1987.
Chelsea loanee Andrey Santos and Athletico Paranaense striker Vitor Roque are the key players in the Brazilian squad.
FIFA U20 World Cup draw in full
Group A : Argentina, Uzbekistan, Guatemala, New Zealand
Group B : United States, 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