Nigeria, Others Finalise Build Up

With four days to the opening of the 2011 African Youth Championship, AYC, in Johannesburg, South Africa, the eight finalists are putting finishing touches to their preparations for the U-20 tournament.

The eight teams for the final are host South Africa, Mali, Egypt and Lesotho in Group A, and defending champions Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Gambia in Group B.

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, moved the tournament from Libya to South Africa as a result of the political crisis in the north African country. The African tournament is quite important, as it will be used to select four African representatives to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia later in the year.

The new host has appointed Maqsood Chenia as head coach of the country’s U-20 side, known as the Amajita. Chenia replaces Khabo Zondo, who has since been redeployed.

On Sunday, the Amajita beat their counterparts from Cameroon in a friendly in Pretoria.

Also preparing hard for the Championship are the Lesotho U-20, known as Makoanyane XI. The team are in camp this week for the final preparations, during which they are scheduled to play at least three friendlies.

For Mali, the country’s team have continued preparations in the Malian capital, Bamako. The team will play some friendly matches against local sides in Mali, and have also lined up some practice matches once they arrive in South Africa.

Mali coach Cheick Fantamady Diallo has said the final list of players for the final would be revealed a day before the team’s departure.

In Nigeria, coach John Obuh has named Ahmed Musa, who is playing professionally in the Netherlands, as one of the seven professionals invited to the Flying Eagles.

Coach Obuh’s team is made up of three goalkeepers, seven defenders, four midfielders and seven attackers.

Nigeria wrapped up preparations with friendlies against Dolphin and Sharks football clubs of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Flying Eagles won both matches.

Obuh later told PANA that he is not afraid of any of the big teams in his group, in an apparent reference to defending champion Ghana as well as Gambia and Cameroon, considered to have strong teams.