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Nigeria and Venezuela get the ball rolling in Group B of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 when they meet at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on Friday.

The stakes
These two sides go into the competition with very different pressures upon them. While the Nigerians must live up to their pre-tournament billing of title candidates, newcomers Venezuela are outsiders with nothing to lose. Friday's meeting is also a clash of styles between the direct, physical approach of the Africans and the South Americans' more patient brand of possession-based football, setting up the prospect of an intriguing battle for three valuable points.

The stat
0 - The number of times that Nigeria have got the better of South American opposition in the history of the tournament. The Flying Eagles have lost six out of seven matches against the cream of the CONMEBOL Zone and drawn the other, a goalless stalemate with Brazil at Netherlands 2005.

The words
"We've never beaten a South American team before but things will be different this time. That doesn't mean to say we'll be underestimating Venezuela because that would be a big mistake. It's our first match and we want to win it." Nigeria midfielder Yakubu Alfa

"Nigeria are a physical side with some quick and dynamic players, and they're one of the strongest teams at this level. We need to be watchful because there's a lot at stake in each game, especially the first one." Venezuela forward Jose Salomon Rondon