Black Satellites to know World Cup opponents on Monday

Black Satellites of Ghana will know their first round opponents at the U20 World Cup in Turkey on Monday.

All the semi-finalists of the 2013 AYC led by Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, Ghana, Mali and Egypt have qualified for the World Cup in June while awaiting the last four matches in the African Championship in Algeria.

Nigeria take on Egypt in Ain Temouchent while Ghana battle fellow West Africans Mali in Oran simultaneously.

For Monday evening’s draw in Istanbul, the African flag bearers at the World Cup will be labelled by their eventual positions at the AYC, whose championship game will be played on Saturday in Oran.

The hour-long event will be graced by some of Turkey’s top football stars.

Ghana’s Black Satellites made history in 2009, when they became the first African team to win the World Cup.

Nigeria were beaten finalists in 1989 and 2005.

Interestingly, the two most successful teams in this competition, Brazil and Argentina, did not qualify for Turkey 2013.

The 24 finalists, who include England, Colombia, France and Korea Republic, USA, Cuba and Australia, will be drawn into six first round groups to be based in seven Turkish cities.

The tournament will be played from June 21 to July 13, 2013.