Nigeria's U20 team, the Flying Eagles will on Friday know their opponents for the 2923 FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.
Recall that Indonesia were stripped off the hosting rights due to their religious issues with Israel who qualified for the tournament for the first time and their unwillingness to let them into their country.
The football body on Monday evening announced Friday 21st April as the draw date in Zurich Switzerland the headquarters of FIFA.
Flying Eagles qualified for the tournament after they finished 3rd in the 2023 U20 African Cup of Nations in Egypt and will compete alongside 24 nations for honours.
"Following the confirmation of the new hosts, the Official Draw of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023™ will take place on Friday 21 April at the Home of FIFA in Zurich. Further details will be provided in due course," official FIFA statement reads.
The U-20 World Cup plays a key role in FIFA’s efforts to promote youth football across the world. Since 1977, this tournament has featured some of the greatest players of the past decades, including Diego Armando Maradona, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Erling Haaland and many others. Having this year’s edition taking place in a country that lives and breathes football will be a tremendous inspiration for the stars of tomorrow.
Ukraine U20 team are the current champions. They defeated Korea 3-1 in the 2019 final.
The tournament which was cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic will make its return this year in Argentina.
By Oluwayemi Omolagba