Amajita have discovered their opponents for the 24th edition of FIFA U-20 World Cup in the group stages after the draw was conducted in the early hours of Friday morning in Santiago, Chile.
The tournament, set to kick-off on September 27 and culminate with the final on October 19 in the Chilean capital, will see 24 nations vying for youth football’s most coveted prize.
Four African nations will participate, with continental champions South Africa leading the charge alongside Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco. Amajita earned their place in Pot 3 following a triumphant campaign at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] under the guidance of Marumo Gallants coach Raymond Mdaka.
South Africa beat Morocco 1-0 in a hard-fought final in Cairo a fortnight ago to win their first continental title. This also ensured that they avoided potential group-stage clashes with other highly-ranked teams from their pot, such as Spain.
Meanwhile, Nigeria found themselves in Pot 2, joining footballing giants like France, Argentina, and Mexico. Egypt and Morocco, both semi-finalists at the U-20 AFCON, were placed in Pot 4.
AMAJITA TO FACE FRANCE, NEW CALEDONIA, USA IN U-20 WORLD CUP
South Africa’s Amajita have been drawn into Group E of the FIFA U-20 World Cup alongside traditional powerhouse France and the ever-competitive USA, with New Caledonia completing the quartet.
On the other hand, Egypt finds themselves in Group A with tournament hosts Chile, Asian giants Japan, and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Morocco faces a tough challenge in Group C as they are drawn against Brazil, Mexico, and Spain. In addition, Nigeria are in Group F. Their opponents include Colombia, Norway, and Saudi Arabia.
According to the competition format, the top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-placed sides, will advance to the knockout stages.
WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE DRAW
Group A: Chile, Egypt, Japan, New Zealand
Group B: Korea Republic, Panama, Paraguay, Ukraine
Group C: Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Spain
Group D: Argentina, Australia, Cuba, Italy
Group E: France, New Caledonia, South Africa, USA
Group F: Colombia, Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia.
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