2015 African Youth Championship: Nigeria U-20 get tough opponents

The Flying Eagles have been handed a hard-hitting group in the preliminary stages of the 2015 African U-20 Championship in Senegal

Nigeria will face hosts Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo in Group A of the preliminary round of the 2015 African Youth Championship.

The draw ceremony took place Sunday afternoon in Cairo. Caf General Secretary, Hicham El Amrani conducted the draw and was assisted by CAF Executive Committee member, Amadou Diakite, who doubles as President of the Organising Committee of the African U-20 Championship.

The opening game of the 19th edition of the biennial championship will see hosts Senegal squaring Nigeria at the Leopold Senghor Stadium in Dakar on 8 March 2015 before Congo welcomes Cote d’Ivoire later in the other game of the first day.

 Three days on, Flying Eagles will face Congo whilst hosts Senegal lock horns with Cote d’Ivoire in an-all Francophone affair, both at the Leopold Senghor Stadium.
In Group B, Ghana hosts South Africa in the opening match on 9 March 2015 and Mali versus Zambia, both at the Caroline Faye Stadium. Three days later at the same venue, South Africa will engage and Mali whilst Zambia battles Congo.

On 15 March 2015, Ghana will face Mali in an-all West African affair at the Caroline Faye Stadium whilst Southern African duo, South Africa and Zambia cross swords at the Leopold Senghor Stadium. The semi-finalists will represent the continent at the 2015 Fifa U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

By Shina Oludare