Nigeria are in a tough group

Nigeria, the current African Champions, have been placed in Group A with reigning champions USA, Sweden and North Korea.

Ghana find themselves in Group D, where they will face China, the runner-up at the 1999 World Cup, Australia and Russia.

Nigeria will be on familiar territory, as it was grouped with the Americans and North Koreans at the 1999 finals.

Although they lost 5-1 to the Americans in their second group match in Chicago, the Super Falcons went on to become the first African side to reach the quarter-finals, where they narrowly lost to Brazil.

Ghana's Black Queens were also drawn with China and Australia at the last World Cup. But they finished at the bottom of their group.

Group B will be contested by Norway, France, Brazil and South Korea, while Germany, Canada, Japan and Argentina will be aiming to qualify from Group C.

The opening match of the tournament, which is taking place in the United States for the second time in succession, will be played on 21 September.

Women's World Cup draw

Group A
United States, Sweden, Nigeria, North Korea

Group B
Norway, France, Brazil, South Korea.

Group C
Germany, Canada, Japan, Argentina.

Group D
China, Ghana, Australia, Russia.