Izuchukwu Okosi
Nigeria’s U-20 men’s football national team, the Flying Eagles on Friday discovered their group opponents in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, reports Prime Business Africa.
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu’s team will play against Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Norway in Group F of the World Cup.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe seven-time African U-20 champions finished in third place at the recently concluded CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The draw ceremony was held at the Chilevision Machasa Studios and was hosted by Chilean journalist Javiera Naranjo.
Former U-20 World Cup champion and Argentina international Juan Pablo Sorin assisted FIFA’s Director of Tournaments, Jaime Yarza in conducting the draw.
The 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup will be held across four cities in the South American nation – namely Santiago, Rancagua, Valparaiso and Talca.
The final of the U-20 World Cup will start on September 27 and the final played on October 19.
In 1989, the Flying Eagles who finished the FIFA U-20 World Youth Championship as runners up, faced Saudi Arabia in the group stage.
The team captained by Bawa Abdullahi beat the hosts 2-1 in the opening match of the World Cup.
The 1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup will be best remembered for the back-to-life comeback in the quarterfinals when coach Tunde Disu’s side came from four goals down to draw 4-4 against Soviet Union and eventually won on penalties.
Colombia and Norway make up the rest of the team’s in Group F.
READ ALSO: Egypt who Nigeria beat in the third place playoff at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations are in Group A and will test their might against hosts, Chile, Japan and New Zealand.
Korea Republic, Panama and Ukraine make up Group B.
Morocco will campaign in what seems like the ‘Group of Death’ in Group C as they pooled with Brazil, Spain and Mexico.
Group D contains 2005 winners, Argentina, Australia, Cuba and Italy in what is also another tricky section.
African U-20 champions South Africa are in Group E with France, USA and New Caledonia to battle for the top two positions.
New Caledonia are making their debut at the tournament.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
