Nigeria's Flying Eagles yesterday bagged an easy draw for the FIFA U-20 World Cup scheduled to take place in Egypt between September 24 and October 16 this year in the five host cities of Alexandria, Ismailia, Cairo, Port Said, and Suez.

Yesterday's official draw in Luxor, Egypt, which threw up six intriguing groups with many mouth-watering clashes, saw the Eagles streamed in Group B along with former world youth champions Spain; South American qualifier Venezuela and liliputians Tahiti, who will represent Oceania having shocked onlookers to qualify and be the first Pacific island nation to appear at the tournament.


The draw ceremony at the Temple of Luxor was attended by a large number of VIP guests. FIFA Director of Competitions Jim Brown conducted the draw, assisted by Shawki Gharieb, assistant coach of Egypt's national team, Aya Medany, the female modern pentathlon world champion, and a trio of distinguished former Egypt internationals: Hazem Emam, Hady Khashaba and Taher Abou Zeid.

The team making the draw conjured up a string of fascinating encounters at the group stage. Host Egypt will face Italy, Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago in Group A.

European champions Germany must contend with USA, Korea Republic and African qualifiers Cameroon in Group C, while South American top dogs Brazil face the challenge posed by Czech Republic, Australia and Costa Rica in Group E.

In Group D African champions Ghana will take on England, Uruguay and Uzbekistan, whereas South Africa are streamed along with Honduras, Hungary and the United Arab Emirates in Group F.

Egypt will meet Trinidad and Tobago in the opening match on Thursday 24 September at the Egyptian Army Stadium in Alexandria.

Nigeria will start its campaign against Venezuela on Friday, September 25 in Cairo.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup has long been a breeding ground for future FIFA World Cup stars to make a first impression on the international stage. Such luminaries as Diego Maradona in the competition's fledgling era, through to modern giants of the game such as Lionel Messi, Kaka, Thierry Henry and 2007 golden-boy Sergio Aguero are all graduates of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

A new name could well be etched onto the trophy at the 16 October final with a number of teams stating their credentials in qualifying combined with the fact that reigning and six-time champions Argentina failed to qualify making the tournament as wide open as ever.

Having appeared at every tournament bar one, Brazil will inevitably be strong contenders that many will wish to avoid in the draw, having won on four occasions, mostly recently in 2003.

i thank God that Ghana has been drawn in the same group with England.We Ghanaians are going to prove to the whole world that when it comes to football in Africa, we are second to none.Am highly convinced that Ghana is going to take this cup, cos we are the kin pin of African football.Hope our Cameroonian and Nigerian brothers will at least qualify to the semi finals cos your senior brother Ghana has already qualify for the finals.Good luck to all the African teams.