Gambia face West African neighbours: As 2009 African U-17 kicks-off today

The Gambia Under 17 team will take on West African neighbours, Guinea, in their Group A opener today as the 2009 African Under-17 Championship kicks-off in Algeria.

The game, which will be played in the northern suburbs of Algiers - Zeralda,   will kick-off at 14:00hrs Algeria time, which is 13:00hrs in Banjul. The Guineans, who were runners-up in the 1995 edition, will be up for revenge against the 2005 champions who beat earlier them in the pre-competition warm-up match played in Banjul last month. Hosts Algeria will face 2003 champions Cameroon in the other Group A game today at Dar El Beida in the south-east of the city.

After today’s opening match, the Baby Scorpions will return to action on Sunday, March 22, with a clash against fellow favourites, Cameroon, before wrapping off their group campaign against hosts, Algeria, on Wednesday, March 25. Nigeria and Ghana, both two-time African Under-17 champions, failed to qualify for the tournament in Algeria, and in their absence, the Gambia and Cameroon are being touted as the possible challengers for the coveted crown.

The four semi-finalists in the Algeria event will represent the continent in the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Cup to be staged in Nigeria later this year.