Football/ South Africa and Nigeria launch U-20 World Cup campaigns in Chile
Following Egypt’s defeat and Morocco’s stunning victory over Spain, South Africa and Nigeria kick off their U-20 World Cup campaigns on Monday in Chile, with both African nations playing simultaneously.
The reigning African U-20 champions, South Africa, face a challenging opener against France in Group E at the Estadio El Teniente. The young Bafana Bafana will need to draw on their continental success as they take on one of Europe’s strongest youth teams at 8 PM GMT.
Meanwhile, Nigeria tackle Norway in Group F at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, also scheduled for 8 PM GMT. The Flying Eagles, with their rich history in youth football, will be eager to make a strong start in their pursuit of World Cup glory.
African teams have shown contrasting fortunes in the tournament so far. While Morocco’s impressive triumph over Spain has raised hopes for the continent, Egypt’s loss serves as a reminder of the competition’s difficulty.
Both South Africa and Nigeria carry significant expectations as they represent African football on the global stage.
Their performances in these opening fixtures could set the tone for their respective campaigns in Chile, where they aim to advance deep into the tournament and restore African pride at youth level.
