by Bunmi Ogunyale
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles may face former World Champions, Brazil as the draw ceremony for the group stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup holds in Zurich on Friday.
The Ladan Bosso’s lads in Pot 3 could be drawn against the South Americans who are in Pot 2.
Argentina, Uruguay, USA, France and Italy in Pot 1 also pose as danger to the campaign of the Nigerian side in the competition.
Sam Johnson will present the draw, which will be conducted by FIFA Director of Tournaments Jaime Yarza. Argentinian Football Association (AFA) President Claudio Tapia will be present, along with a couple of FIFA legends.
One team from each pot will be drawn into each of the six groups. FIFA’s general principle is to ensure that no group has more than one team from the same confederation drawn into it.
The 24 teams will be drawn into six groups of four, with 16 of them advancing to the knockout phase.
Pots
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
Trending
- Pilot survives as NAF helicopter crashes in Kaduna
- One abducted as gunmen strike on Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Road
- Governor queries Emirate over shunning of Sallah celebration by District Heads
- Ali Modu Sheriff’s mother dies, burial plan released
- Ondo, Ekiti to suffer nine hours daily power outage for two months
- Atiku slams federal government over Borno bomb attacks
- Police deny arresting VeryDarkMan
- Before Yahaya Bello scores an own goal, by Kazeem Akintunde