… Flying Eagles May Face France, USA, Italy, Brazil

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles have been seeded in Pot 3 ahead of the draw for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup on March 31.

Nigeria, bronze medal winners at the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON in Egypt, could face any of European power houses – Italy, USA or France who are seeded in Pot 1 alongside Africa champions, Senegal

The draw will be held on 31 March 2023, at the Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Other two Africa’s representatives, Gambia and Tunisia are seeded in Pot 4.

Nigeria can be paired with any team in pots 1, 2 and 4 not with Pot 3. Also, Nigeria cannot be paired with a fellow African team as two teams from same continent are not paired in the same group with the exception of European countries

Flying Eagles have won two silver medals in 1989 and 2005 after coming second against Portugal and Argentina.

The 24 teams will be drawn into six groups of four teams, with the hosts Indonesia automatically seeded to Pot 1 and placed into the first position of Group A, while the remaining teams were seeded into their respective pots based on their results in the last five FIFA U-20 World Cups (more recent tournaments weighted more heavily), with bonus points awarded to confederation champions.

The draw will start with the host Indonesia to A1, the teams from Pot 1 will be drawn first, the teams from Pots 2, 3 and 4 need to skip groups to avoid geographical clash and there will be no 2 teams to play from the same confederation, then the draw will conclude with teams from Pot 4.

Due to Israel’s lack of diplomatic recognition with Indonesia and Iraq, they can’t be drawn with each other.

Ukraine are the current holders of the U-20 World Cup trophy following an historic victory in Poland in 2019.

Ukraine defeated the USA, Qatar, Panama and Colombia, before overcoming the might of Italy in the semi-final to set-up a 3-1 victory over Korea Republic in the final.

The World Cup will commence of May 20 through June 11, 2023 in Indonesia.

2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup seeding

Pot 1
Indonesia
Uruguay
USA
France
Senegal
Italy

Pot 2

England
South Korea
New Zealand
Brazil
Ecuador
Colombia

Pot 3
Nigeria
Japan
Uzbekistan
Iraq
Honduras
Fiji

Pot 4
Guatemala
Dominican Republic
Gambia
Israel
Slovakia
Tunisia