Oceania Football Confederation’s U-20 champions Tahiti have been drawn with Spain, Nigeria and Venezuela in Group B of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 after the official draw took place in Luxor overnight.
The draw has thrown up a number of mouth-watering clashes for FIFA’s leading junior competition set to take place from 24 September to 16 October in the five host cities of Alexandria, Ismailia, Cairo, Port Said and Suez.
Tahiti’s opening match in Cairo will be against Spain who won the tournament in 1999 and were runners-up in 2003.
Venezuela will be next up and arguably the easiest opposition for Tahiti but the South Americans should not be taken lightly after their impressive form during the qualifiers where they drew with Argentina and beat Uruguay and Colombia.
Lionel Charbonnier’s side will then play African powerhouse Nigeria who were runners in the 2005 edition.
In qualifying for Egypt 2009, Tahiti made history last December by becoming the first island nation from Oceania to qualify for a FIFA field football event. The team is preparing for this year’s tournament by playing in Tahiti’s premier senior competition – Championnat de Tahiti – where they are currently placed second behind Manu Ura in the playoff race.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup draw ceremony at the Temple of Luxor was attended by a large number of VIP guests. FIFA Director of Competitions Jim Brown conducted the draw, assisted by Shawki Gharieb, assistant coach of Egypt’s national team, Aya Medany, the female modern pentathlon world champion, and a trio of distinguished former Egypt internationals: Hazem Emam, Hady Khashaba and Taher Abou Zeid.
Intriguing matchups include Germany against USA in Group C, African champions Ghana taking on England in Group D and South American top dogs Brazil facing the challenge posed by Czech Republic in Group E.
Hosts Egypt will meet Trinidad and Tobago in the opening match on Thursday 24 September at the Egyptian Army Stadium in Alexandria.
Photo courtesy of Franck Chevillard
Tahiti at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009
Tahiti vs. Spain
Friday 25 September
Al Salam Stadium, Cairo
Tahiti vs. Venezuela
Monday 28 September
Al Salam Stadium, Cairo
Tahiti vs. Nigeria
Thursday 1 October
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
FIFA U-20 World Cup 2009 Official Draw
Group A (Cairo)
Egypt
Trinidad & Tobago
Paraguay
Italy
Group B (Cairo)
Nigeria
Venezuela
Spain
Tahiti
Group C (Suez)
USA
Germany
Cameroon
Korea Republic
Group D (Ismailia)
Ghana
Uzbekistan
England
Uruguay
Group E (Port Said)
Brazil
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Australia
Group F (Alexandria)
United Arab Emirates
South Africa
Honduras
Hungary