AYC 2013: FIFA To Release Semi-Final Draws, Today

The Flying Eagles and the other semi finalists at the on-going African Youth Championship (AYC) will know their first round opponents at the forthcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup today.

According to a statement by the team’s Media Officer, Samm Audu, yesterday in Abuja, the opponents would emerge during the draw for the competition in Istanbul, Turkey.

It said the hour-long event would be graced by some of Turkey’s top football stars.

The statement said the 24 finalists include England, Colombia, France and Korea Republic, USA, Cuba and Australia.

“The finalists will be drawn into six first round groups to be based in seven Turkish cities,’’ it added.

The tournament will be played from June 21 to July 13.

Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, and Egypt have reached the last four of the 2013 AYC holding in Algeria.

The feat thus automatically gives them qualification tickets to the upcoming U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

The statement added that Monday’s draw in Istanbul would categorise the African flagbearers at the World Cup on the basis of their final placing at the ongoing AYC.

Already, the semi-final matches at the AYC have been billed for tomorrow’s evening, with Nigeria taking on Egypt while Ghana will lock horns with fellow west Africans Mali.

Ghana’s Black Satellites made history in 2009, when they became the first African team to win the U-20 World Cup.

Nigeria were beaten finalists in the 1989 and 2005 editions of the championship.