Kanu, Cambiasso to Feature in FIFA U-17 World Cup Draw

Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu will be a celebrity participant when the draw for the FIFA U-17 World Cup holds on Friday in Mumbai, India.

Kanu who was a member of the Nigerian cup winning side of 1993 will be joined by Argentian’s Esteban Cambiasso who featured in the 1995 edition of the tournament.

According to a statement from FIFA, the duo will be joined by a host of other stars from across the host country who will descend on the Mumbai Sahara Star Hotel for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 draw.

Kanu lifted the U-17 World Cup trophy back in 1993, scoring five goals as Nigeria were victorious in Japan.

Cambiasso was part of the Argentina side that finished third in the 1995 edition, scoring in the play-off for third place against Oman.

Neither current holders Nigeria or Cambiasso’s La Albiceleste are among the 24 qualified teams waiting with baited breath to see the outcome of the draw in Mumbai, but there are a number of first-time participants to catch the eye. Hosts India join African side Niger and Oceanian outfit New Caledonia in making their U-17 World Cup debut.

Qualified teams

Africa: Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger
Asia: India (as hosts), Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea DPR
Europe: England, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey
North, Central America & Caribbean: Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, USA
Oceania: New Caledonia, New Zealand
South America: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay

Joining Cambiasso and Kanu as draw assistants will be former India captain Sunil Chhetri and badminton star Pusarla Venkata Sindhu. Chhetri currently plays for Bengaluru FC and the Indian national team, and is both the most-capped player and all-time top goalscorer for the Blue Tigers. Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, becoming the youngest Indian to finish on the podium at an individual Olympic event in the process.