Cameroon Under 20 coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile (left) says they are look to their under-20 team (right) to revive their senior team

 Cameroon’s qualification for the Orange Africa Youth Championships semi final signals a promising future for the country’s senior national team.
In their first Group B fixture Cameroon piped Gambia 1-0. Ohandza Franck’s strike just before the half time whistle, secured Cameroon victory over perennial rivals Nigeria on Thursday. 
“That was a tough match. Both teams wanted to reach the semis after we each won our first matches. There is always a big battle when we meet. My boys have done well to come out on top,” says Cameroon’s Under-20 coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile.
Coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile reckons that their booking a place in the last four with a match in hand has uplifted the spirits of many Cameroonian fans. Africa’s four semi finalists will be in action at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Columbia in July.
 “This victory lifts the cloud of gloom hanging over our fans. People have been unhappy since our senior team the Indomitable Lions lost 1-0 to the Teranga Lions (Senegal) in Dakar in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last month,” Mpile revealed.
“Our vision is that after the World Cup in Columbia, some of these guys will make it into the senior team, the Indomitable Lions. Lately, our senior team has been losing matches,” the tactician pointed out.
“Those who do not make the senior team can reinforce our Under-23 side. The team was eliminated by Tanzania in the 2012 London Olympic qualifiers. However they still have a campaign in the All Africa Games,” Mpile pointed out.

Malian coach Sekou Diallo (Left) and goal scorer Amara Konate (right) address the post-match media briefing after their 1-0 victory over Egypt.

The euphoria of qualifying for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup has not diverted Mali’s focus on the Orange Africa Youth Championships in Soweto South Africa.
Mali are the first Africans to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup to be staged in Columbia in July. Since Ghana won the championships two years ago, Mali are now bound to be the subject of public interest.
“Ghana’s success at the 2009 FIFA Youth World Cup that was played in Egypt is a huge achievement for Africa. We salute them as they set a high standard for all of us to follow,” the Malian Under-20 coach Sekou Diallo begun.
“However for us we are going to stay focussed on the current championship here in Soweto right up to the end. Only then will we start thinking about Columbia,” says coach Diallo
Mali opened their campaign on a high beating the host South Africa 4-2 in the tournament opener. Despite playing for over 75 minutes with ten men they secured a hardfought 1-0 victory over Egypt on Wednesday.
“Our match against a well disciplined and organised Egyptian side was particularly difficult. We had to reorganise ourselves after our striker was given a red card,” says Diallo.
“I had faith in my boys because we have played Egypt in Burkina Faso and elsewhere. We knew their style of play very well,” the Malian tactician explained.
The winning goal was scored by Amara Konate scored the goal that separated the two sides from a set piece in the 62nd minute.  Nonetheless he resists taking the glory alone.
 “Our strategy was to fall back and play in solidarity as we were one man short for most of the game. We attacked and defended as a unit. We just got one good opportunity and used it and that is how we won the game.
“We are ready for any team that will qualify for the semi final from the other group. The Mali team stands as a unit and not a band of individuals,” says Konate.

Egyptian Under-20 team (left). Their coach Diaa El Sayed (right) says they are resolute in quest for a FIFA Under-20 World Cup ticket.

Egypt is pulling out all stops to beat hosts South Africa in their Group A tie at the Orange Africa Youth Championships in Dobsonville Soweto on Saturday (23 April).
At stake is a place in the championship semi finals. Even more important is a ticket to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Columbia in July. Africa will be represented in Columbia by the four semi finalists at this championship.
“The opportunity to play at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup is the supreme motivation we have used to prepare our players psychologically for their match against South Africa. Each of them has a desire to play on the world stage,” says Egyptian Under-20 coach Diaa El Sayed.
Egypt started their campaign in the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Lesotho. They went on to fall 0-1 to a ten man Malian outfit. Consequently, Egypt has three points. They scored two goals and conceded one.
However they tie on points with South Africa who suffered a 2-4 thrashing from Mali before edging Lesotho 2-1. Coach Sayed is adamant that even though they have a better goal average than South Africa they are not going to play for a draw against South Africa. 
“Right after our match against Mali on Wednesday, we began preparing for nothing else but a win against South Africans.  I told the players that if they are really hungry to go to the world Cup s they says then they must go for an outright win against South Africa,” coach El Sayed explained.
“We respect South Africa. They are a good team. This will be a difficult match or us to win as they will have the home crowd supporting them. My players are going to go all out and give their best. We aim to go to the World Cup,” El Sayed declared.

Lesotho’s Under-20 coach Leslie Notsi says his team aims to go out of the Orange Africa Youth Championships in a high.

Lesotho aim for victory against Mali in their Group A fixture at the Orange Africa Youth Championships tie against Mali in Johannesburg South Africa on Saturday (23 April).
“Going forwards we are going to do our level best to secure maximum points from our last group match. We are going to encourage and motivate our players. With the moral support we have given them they are ready for the match against Mali,” says coach Leslie Notsi.
Earlier on Lesotho lost 0-2 to Egypt and 1-2 to South Africa. Mali top the group with six points from two games. Egypt and South Africa follow with here points, while Lesotho have no points.
Lesotho is keen to salvage some national pride in their tie against Mali at Milpark Stadium in Johannesburg before they return home. Mali qualified for the semi final with a match in hand.
“We have given the players a lot of moral support. They are hungry for victory and would like to return home with at least one victory from this tournament,” says Notsi.
 

Gambia request for a better playing field for the Orange Africa Youth Championships

Gambia are positive they will get a result against defending champions Ghana provided they play on a better football pitch at the Orange Africa Youth Championships in Soweto South Africa today Thursday.
In their opening group B tie Gambia lost 1-0 to Cameroon at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Monday. In the other Group match Nigeria piped arch rivals Ghana 2-1.
Nothing short of a clear victory over Ghana will guarantee their campaign in back on track. Gambian coach Laminn Saar reckons that with a better playing surface his players are equal to the task at hand.
“We appeal to the organisers that in as much as they want to promote youth football on the continent, they should provide a good playing ground. Playing on the kind of pitch we did on Monday will not lead to progress in African football,” says coach Saar.
Following a heavy downpour on Monday, the pitch at Dobsonville Stadium was waterlogged. It appears the pitch lacks adequate drainage facilities.  Saar’s merely echoed the view expressed by all four team coaches in Monday’s Group B action.
Turning to this afternoon’s encounter coach Saar remains upbeat. “I am not afraid of Ghana. Based on the quality of players I have brought here, I know we will rise to the occasion against Ghana. All we need is a good playing field to execute attractive and winning football, ” Saar assures.