Nigeria’s U20 women national team, Falconets, will, today, know their group opponents at this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals when the draw ceremony holds at the Teatro Nacional (National Theatre) in San José, Costa Rica.
All the 16 participating countries at the tournament scheduled for August 10 to 28, are now known, with Nigeria’s Falconets and Ghana’s Black Maidens flying Africa’s flag.
Only four countries, namely Germany, Brazil, U.S. and Nigeria have played in all editions of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup since the competition was launched as an U-19 championship in Canada 20 years ago.
Germany have won the championship thrice (2004, 2010 and 2014); U.S. have won thrice (2002, 2008 and 2012), while Nigeria have twice reached the final, losing to Germany in 2010 and 2014.
Ghana, Africa’s other flagbearers, have reached the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup on five previous occasions, crashing out at group stage each time.
This year’s finals will be played at the same two venues that hosted the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2014: Estadio Nacional in San José and the Morera Solo Stadium in Alajuera.
Today’s draw ceremony coincides with the 100 Days To Go special event of this year’s championship, which has as slogan Vamos Juntas (Let’s Do It Together).
Nigeria have been placed in Pot 2 for the purpose of the draw. Spain are the defending champions, after beating Mexico 2-1 in the 2018 final in Montevideo, Uruguay. New Zealand picked the bronze medals.
The teams listed for the draw are Nigeria, Ghana (Africa), Australia, Japan, Korea Republic (Asia), Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico, U.S. (CONCACAF), New Zealand (Oceania), Germany, France, The Netherlands, Spain (Europe) and
Brazil and Colombia (CONMEBOL).
SOURCE:THE GUARDIAN
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