Nigeria In 'Group Of Death'

FIFA U-17 World Cup Draw: Nigeria In 'Group Of Death'

Host for the 2009 FIFA Under-17 tournament are drawn in a tough first round group that includes Germany and Argentina...

Hosts Nigeria have an uphill task defending their FIFA Under-17 World Cup crown after they were drawn in a tough first round group that includes Germany, Argentina and Honduras.

The Golden Eaglets, three-time world champions, will open the tournament on October 24 against Germany at the Abuja National Stadium.

Twenty-four years ago, Nigeria defeated Germany 2-0 to win the inaugural FIFA Under-16 tournament in China.

At Friday night's draw ceremony held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, FIFA vice-president, Jack Warner, described this grouping as the ''Group of Death'.

The colourful ceremony was attended by Nigeria's vice-president Goodluck Jonathan.

The other 20 teams in the tournament were drawn into five groups of four teams each.

Three-time champions Brazil head Group B based in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital city. The other teams in this group are Japan, Mexico and Switzerland.

African champions Gambia are in Group C in Calabar, along with Iran, Colombia and the Netherlands.

Another African team, Burkina Faso, will be based in Group in Nugu with Turkey, Costa Rica and New Zealand.

Group E will be in the northern city of Kano, and will feature United Arab Emirates, Malawi, Spain and the United States of America, while Group F in Kaduna has Uruguay, Korea, Algeria and Italy.

The biennial competition will end on November 15.