Nigeria U-17 to Face African Champions on Saturday

The two-time African Champions, Gambia U-17 will clash with the host for the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria, on Saturday August 8th 2009, at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, says Seedy MB Kinteh, the President of the Gambia Football Association.

The Golden Eaglets will use the game to test their might against African champions, ahead of the tournament in October.

As part of the build-up to the World Cup, both sides will also meet on a different date in Brikama on Tuesday August 11th 2009.

Nigeria are the defending champions of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, after they piped Spain in the final in 2007 in Korea.

The Eaglets who are expected in Banjul within this week are engaged in what could be called a rigorous intensive training camp. Recently, they took part in a playing tour of Ghana and Togo and were also invited at a regional CECAFA tournament. An official announced they will train at the Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar.

Gambia won their second African Junior championship in Algeria earlier this year after hosting and winning the competition in 2005.   The African champions over the past months have been engaged in a series of test matches with local first division teams and recently drew with neighbours Senegal in a warm-up match in Banjul.

The GFA boss also pointed out that the Darling Scorpions after playing host to Nigeria will head for Senegal for the return leg of their friendly set for August 15 in Dakar.