African duo get tricky 2022 U20 Women's World Cup groups

The two African representatives at this year’s U20 Women's World Cup have been handed tricky pools at the competition with Nigeria drawn to face last edition's hosts France while Ghana will play defending champions Japan.

Two-time world vice-champions Nigeria will also take on 2010 bronze winner South Korea in Group C with Canada, who they have met in three previous editions at the group stages.

The Falconets, led by captain Oluwatosin Demehin, have been in an excellent run, beating the Central African Republic, Congo, Cameroon and Senegal to qualify for the competition for a record 10th appearance with 25 goals and conceding twice.

The African Games champions will seek to extend their group stage supremacy over the Canadians in their fourth meeting but must avoid a slip up against 2016 runners-up France.

Ghana will face tougher opponents in Group D as they will play title holders Japan, the Netherlands and USA.

The Black Princesses captained by 2021 TotalEnergies Women's Champions League star and Avaldsnes striker Evelyn Badu, enjoyed an impressive form, cruising past Mauritania, Zambia, Uganda and Ethiopia for a sixth consecutive qualification.

Ghana will be seeking a revenge over Netherlands that defeated them 4-0 at the 2018 U20 Women's World Cup in France, as they aim to break their quarterfinal jinx.

In the overall draw, hosts nation Costa Rica and Brazil will clash at this year's tournament after they were put in Group A with Australia and Spain. Another interesting group is Group B where Germany, Columbia, New Zealand and Mexico.

The draw in San José, the Costa Rican capital, on Thursday was attended by the 16 national teams' representatives, including the two African countries participating in the competition.

The draw assistants featured some Costa Rican legends Shirley Cruz and Paulo César Wanchope Watson.

Hosts Costa Rica, who will be playing in their third U20 Women's World Cup, will square up against Brazil in the tournament's opening game at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose.

The women's youth competition kicks off on 10 August and the final is set for 28 August, one week before Christmas.

Those Costa Rica 2022 groups in full

GROUP A: Costa Rica, Australia, Spain, Brazil

GROUP B: Germany, Colombia, New Zealand, Mexico

GROUP C: France, Nigeria, Canada, Korea Republic

GROUP D: Japan, The Netherlands, Ghana, USA