Nigeria’s under-20 women football team have been drawn alongside perennial foes Germany, China and debutants Haiti in Group D of the 9th FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition is taking place in France from August 5 to Aug. 24.
At the Draw Ceremony held at Rennes in France on Thursday, Africa’s other flagbearers Ghana was drawn in Group A alongside hosts France, New Zealand and The Netherlands.
Group B is headed by Korea DPR and also has England, Mexico and Brazil, while the U.S, Japan, Paraguay and Spain will battle it out in Group C.
The Nigerian side, also known as the Falconets, will begin their campaign with a huge test against three-time champions Germany at the Stade de Marville in Saint-Malo on August 6.
Germany had edged Nigeria to lift the trophy the two times Nigeria got to the competition’s final — in 2010 in Germany and in 2014 in Canada.
The two-time runners-up will then take on Haiti three days later at the same venue, before moving to Dinan-Léhon to face China at the Stade du Clos Gastel on August 13.
NAN reports that Ghana will be up against hosts France in the tournament’s opening match in Vannes on Aug. 5.
THE DRAW
GROUP A
France
Ghana
New Zealand
The Netherlands
GROUP B
Korea DPR
England
Mexico
Brazil
GROUP C
U.S.A
Japan
Paraguay
Spain
GROUP D
Haiti
China
Nigeria
Germany
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l1yL0eT0kc]
