Defending champs in sizzling group for Libya 2011
The Ghanaians who held on with 10 men to beat Brazil in a penalty shootout to become the first African team to win the Under-20 World Cup in Cairo Egypt will face stiff competition this time to defend their title as they face Nigeria, Cameroon and The Gambia in group B of the upcoming African U-20 championship in March. (Photo: Black Satellites)
The hosts’ nations Libya are in Group A, along with Mali, Egypt and Lesotho. The tournament takes place from 18 March to 1 April and the four semi-finalists will qualify for the U20 World Cup later in 2011.
The World champions the Black Satellites are determined to hold on to both crowns.
“It’s very important for us,” coach Orlando Wellington told journalists before the draw was made.
“It’s a big challenge for me and the players – we have to work very hard to go to the World Cup. It’s not easy but financially and physically we are prepared.”
Wellington insisted that his crop of youngsters have even more potential than their double-winning predecessors.
“When you talk about technique this team is far ahead of the past champions,” he told the BBC’s African sports programme Fast Track.
“These people are tactically and technically [more] sound than the other team. The others play more aggressively but this team can play very good football.”
The teams in each group will engage each other on round-robin basis with the group winners and runners-up advancing to the last four and eventually the final. The semi finalists will represent the continent at the FIFA U-20 World Cup slated for Colombia later next year.
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