U-20 World Cup: Brazil drops Almeria defender Fernandes for Nigeria

Flying Eagles’ group opponents at the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup, Brazil have been forced to make a change to their final squad for the tournament in Argentina.

The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed on Wednesday that Almeria central defender Kaiky Fernandes will not be able to play in the World Cup due to injury.

The defender was injured last week and will not recover for the tournament that starts on May 20 in Argentina.

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Fernandes suffered a muscle injury in the quadriceps of his left leg before Almeria’s La Liga match against Real Madrid on April 29, and faces around four weeks on the sidelines, effectively ruling him out of the World Cup.

The Brazilian Football Confederation have added Coritiba FC’s Jean Pedroso to the roster as a replacement for the injured Almeria man.

Aged 19, Pedroso was a member of the Brazil squad that won the 2023 South American U-20 Championship, where he started seven of the nine matches played by the five-time world champions.

Coach Ramon Menezes’ team will do battle with the Flying Eagles at the Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona, La Plata on May 27.

The South American powerhouse last won the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2011, a team that contained Danilo, Alex Sandro, Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho and Oscar.