Nigeria flying Eagles have been drawn against the host, Egypt, Mozambique and Senegal in the group A of the upcoming TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2023.
The groupings were confirmed on Friday night following the draw conducted in Cairo, Egypt.
Nigeria is seven times champions of the competition.
The TotalEnergies Egypt 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations will take place from 19 February to 11 March 2023. The host cities are Cairo (Group A), Ismailia (Group B) and Alexandria (Group C).
The twelve-nation tournament will begin with a mouth-watering opening game between hosts Egypt and Mozambique on Sunday 19 February 2023 at 16h00 local time.
Nigeria’s team under the tutelage of Coach Ladan Bosso defeated Young Squirrels of Benin Republic 3-1 to win the WAFU-B tournament and eventually secure a place in the African showpiece.
The flying Eagles will go into the competition as the most successful team, although with an 8-year trophy drought.
The Egypt-hosted event will be the 17th edition of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations – 24th if tournaments without hosts are included – and will see Nigeria participate in the tournament for the 18th time.
The Flying Eagles also make a return to the tournament after failing to have qualified for the 2021 edition in Mauritania which Ghana won.
Group A: Egypt, Mozambique, Senegal, Nigeria (Cairo Stadium)
Group B: Uganda, Central Africa Republic, South Sudan, Congo (Suez Canal Stadium)
Group C: Gambia, Tunisia, Benin Republic, Zambia (Alexandria Stadium)
Nigeria won the tournament on seven occasions: 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015, finishing as runners-up in 1999, and 2007, and secured a bronze-medal finish in 1995, 2009, and 2013