Flying Eagles to play Brazil, Italy in tough U20 World Cup group

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn against Brazil, Italy, and the Dominican Republic in Group D of the 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup.

The draw was held at the football governing body’s head office in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday afternoon.

This year’s U-20 FIFA World Cup will take place in Argentina between May 20 and June 11.

Brazil has won the U-20 World Cup on five occasions while Italy is expected to be a tough nut to crack for the Flying Eagles.

The Dominican Republic, on the other hand, is making its first appearance in the competition.

🏆 The stage is set. Which nation will lift the FIFA #U20WC trophy?

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) April 21, 2023

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Argentina is the most successful nation at the FIFA U-20 World Cup — since the competition was launched in Tunisia in 1977.

The South American nation has won the tournament six times. It also hosted the competition 22 years ago.

Flying Eagles have finished as runners-up on two occasions; in Saudi Arabia in 1989 and in The Netherlands in 2005. They were bronze medallists in the USSR in 1985.

The 24 teams jostling for the prestigious trophy are placed in six groups of four, with the top two and four best third-placed countries advancing to the knockout stage.

See the full list below:

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