The U-17 National team, Golden Eaglets, have been drawn in Group F with defending champions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Mexico, Iraq and Sweden for the 2013 edition.
This was arrived at after the draws held on Monday at the Fairmont Bab El Bahr Hotel, Abu Dhabi and monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
NAN reports that the 52-match of the FIFA U–17 World Cup would be played between Oct. 17 and Nov. 8 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The world cup would be played in six host cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Sharjah and Al Ain.
Eaglets’ coach, Manu Garba, while reacting to the draws, said the team’s work had been cut out with the draws, and expressed optimism that the team would progress from the group.
“I want to believe this is a fair draw for us and as you know, we have no choice than to prepare very well because this is an interesting and exciting group.
“Of course, you will pick Mexico as one of the best teams at this level, having being champions in two recent editions of the tournaments.
“But we (Nigeria) are also a power to be reckoned with at this level because we have won it on three previous occasions,’’ Garba said.
The coach said, “with all sense of humility, we will do our best to qualify from this group because it is our aim to do well at the World Cup.
“We are not going to underrate any team starting from our first game against Mexico.
“Though Sweden and Iraq are coming to the tournament for the first time, we cannot dismiss them too because every team at any tournament comes with the prospect to emerge champions.
“So, we just have to take one step after the other in order to realise our ambition at the World Cup,” he added.
Meanwhile, hosts are drawn in Group A with Brazil, Honduras and Slovakia, while the runners up of the 2011 edition, Uruguay was drawn in Group B with New Zealand, Côte d’Ivoire and Italy.
Group C has Croatia, Morocco, Panama and Uzbekistan, while Tunisia, Venezuela, Russia and Japan are in Group D.
Canada, Austria and Iran were pitched in Group E with Argentina.
NAN reports that the Golden Eaglets were runners up in the 2009 edition behind Switzerland after emerging champions of the 2007 edition, but did not qualify for the 2011 edition.
The Golden Eaglets having been picked as the second team would have the honour of playing the Group’s opening game against Mexico on Oct. 19, (NAN)
