SAN FRANCISCO, October 03, (THEWILL) – Nigeria and South Africa have been drawn in the same group for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games qualifying tournament on Wednesday in Egyptian city Alexandria.
Nigeria and South Africa are in Group B for the November 8-22 championship with the Ivory Coast and Zambia, while Group A comprises hosts Egypt, Mali, Cameroon and Ghana.
Teams are restricted to Under-23 footballers and the finalists and the winner of the third-place play-off will represent Africa in Japan, where teams can use three ‘over-age’ players.
Nigeria have won gold (1996) and silver (2008) at Olympic football tournaments, Cameroon gold (2000) and Ghana bronze (1992).
Although lacking Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen, who were on senior national team duty, Nigeria crushed Sudan 5-0 last month after losing the first leg by a solitary goal.
The tournament doubles as the Africa U23 Cup of Nations and the previous two editions were won by Gabon (2011) in Morocco and Nigeria (2015) in Senegal.