Nigeria draw Croatia in
Under-20 World Cup
Nigeria, twice silver medalists
at World Under-20 level, have
got what looks like an easier
draw in the 2011 World Youth
Championship in Colombia as
they will play against Croatia,
Guatemala and Saudi Arabia in
Group D.
The draws were made early on
Thursday by FIFA. Other African
qualifiers do not have it so easy.
Egypt were drawn alongside four
time world champions Brazil in
Group E. They will also play against
Austria and Panama. Mali, who
were bronze medalists at Nigeria '99
are drawn in Group A with hosts
Colombia, France and Korea
Republic while Cameroon are in
Group B with 1989 and 1991
winners Portugal, Uruguay and a
yet to be decided team from
Oceania. Ghana, defending
champions from Egypt 2009, failed
to qualify for the tournament after
dropping out in the preliminary
stages of the on going African Youth
Championship. The opening game
of the tournament will now be
played between runners up Brazil
and previous hosts Egypt. Full
draw: Group A (Bogota/Cali)
Colombia France Mali Korea Republic
Group B (Cali/Bogota) Portugal
Uruguay Cameroon Champion of
Oceania (TBD) Group C (Manizales/
Pereira) Australia Ecuador Costa Rica
Spain Group D (Armenia/Pereira)
Croatia Saudi Arabia Nigeria
Guatemala Group E (Barranquilla/
Cartagena) Brazil Egypt Austria
Panama Group F (Medellin/
Cartagena) Argentina Mexico
England Korea DPR

This looks like pretty picture to Nigeria's team.

Africa is known for going beyond group stage.
Nothing to be really fear about irrespective of the teams they are with in the group stage.