WYC 2013: F/ Eagles To Determine Group Opponents

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will play in one of Groups A, B, C or D when the FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks-off in Turkey from June 21 to July 13 depending on their eventual performance at the ongoing African Youth Championship in Algeria.

The Tide reports that Nigeria, Egypt, Mali and Ghana, currently in the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) semi-finals holding in Algeria, have qualified for the World Cup.

At the Draws held on Monday in Istanbul, Turkey, African teams were allocated spaces as CAF champions, runners-up, 2nd runners-up and fourth, respectively.

The decision to allocate spaces was due to the fact that the AYC which will determine the teams to represent the continent was ongoing in Algeria.

A similar thing happened in 2011, when the Draws for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia were held, while the AYC is still on in South Africa.

The Flying Eagles who played Egypt in the AYC semi-finals yesterday could play in Group E, alongside Chile, England and Iraq, if they retain their continental title.

The runners-up of the AYC which ends on Saturday will play against France, USA and Spain in Group A, dubbed, “Group of Death” by FIFA U-20 World Cup analysts.

Africa’s second runners-up (bronze winners) will play Cuba, Korea Republic and Portugal in Group B, while the fourth-placed team is drawn in Group D, alongside Mexico, Greece and Paraguay.