2024 U-20 WWC: Falconets set to renew rivalry with Germany in group stage

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s national U-20 girls will face familiar foes, Germany in the group stage of the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

The draw of the tournament which took place in Bogota, Colombia saw the two-time beaten finalists pitted against Germany in Group D in a repeat of the 2010 and 2014 finals where the European powerhouse emerged as champions at the expense of the West African giants.

The 2010 final ended 2-0 in favour of Germany while that of 2014 was a keenly contested one but the European side had a 1-0 win as the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards both went to Asisat Oshoala.

Falconets will open their campaign against South Korea and will also face Venezuela in Group D.

The 2024 finals in Colombia will be the first to welcome 24 teams, with Africa supplying four (Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroon, and Ghana).

Debutant, Morocco will play holders, Spain, the United States of America (USA), and Paraguay in Group C as Cameroon which is also making their first-ever appearance at the tournament will square up in Group A against host, Colombia, Australia, and Mexico.

Ghana will meet Japan, New Zealand, and Austria in Group E.

Matches will take place in four venues in three different cities (Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali). There will be two venues in Bogotá – Estadio El Campín and Estadio El Techo.

The Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín and the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali are the other venues.

With three titles each, Germany and the USA are the most successful teams at the competition and will hope to add to their title haul this year.