By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist
For the first time in eight FIFA Women’s World Cup draws, Nigeria has been handed an easy group in the 2023 edition as the draws for the 32 countries participating in the global football fiesta held today at Aotea Center, Auckland, New Zealand.
The former African Champions Nigeria has been drawn in Group B with co-hosts Australia, Debuntants Republic of Ireland and North American powerhouse Canada that defeated Nigeria in the recent two-match international friendlies in Canada.
This is the first time in decades that Nigeria will not draw the likes of nemesis the United States of America (USA), three-time Winner of the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy; Germany; Sweden; France and Canada in the group stage in as many times as possible in the past eight edition of the global football fiesta.
But three other qualified African countries were not so lucky as Nigeria as Zambia was drawn in a tough Group C alongside Spain, Costa Rica and former FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions Japan.
South Africa got a fair draw as they will play in Group G with Sweden, Italy and Argentina while debutant Morocco was handed a tricky Group H with women’s football world powers Germany, South Korea and South Americans Colombia.
Meanwhile, should Cameroon and Senegal qualify form the Inter-Confederation Play-off, they will play in Group E or F.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final will be staged in Australia and New Zealand next year.