The delegation of two-time runners-up, Nigeria have arrived in Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, for a 10-day camping programme ahead of this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals, which holds in the South American country from 20th May to 11th June.
A contingent of 20 players and 10 officials departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday night aboard a Turkish Airline flight and travelled through Istanbul before heading to the “land of the Pampas”.
Having finished with the silver medals in 1989 and 2005, and bronze medal in 1985, the Flying Eagles are hoping to break the duck and collect the top prize in their 13th appearance at a tournament they first graced in Mexico 40 years ago.
That year, they stunned the then Soviet Union 1-0 through a well-taken goal by Tarila Okorowanta in Monterrey, but then lost 0-3 to Brazil in their second game in Guadalajara. Needing victory to reach the knock-out round, the Flying Eagles could only draw with The Netherlands in their final group game in Monterrey.
Nigeria have been slotted in Group D for this year’s championship and will play Dominican Republic, Italy and Brazil in that order in the group phase.
Their first two games will hold in Mendoza, in the far west of Argentina, against the Dominican Republic on 21st May and against Italy on 24th May, before they fly to La Plata to play Brazil on 27th May.
La Plata, Santiago del Estero, San Juan and Mendoza are the four host cities for the 24-nation championship.
AFCON U20 champions Senegal, runners-up The Gambia and Tunisia are the other representatives of the continent in the tournament, Nigeria finished third in the African championship in Egypt held between 19th February and 11th March.
Credit: NFF Communications Department
