African Youth Championship (AYC) - Starting from Saturday and for the next two weeks, eight African nations will be seeking honours as well as places in the finals of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, when the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) kicks off in Algeria.
The countries - host Algeria, Benin, Egypt and Ghana in group A and Defending champion Nigeria, Gabon, Mali, and Congo in group B - will play in two cities in Algeria: Oran in the North-west and its closely-associated city, Ain Temouchent.
Of all the participating nations,Ghana, Egypt and Nigeria are the most experienced, winning seven titles among them since the current edition of the two-yearly tournament started in 1991.
It is therefore fair to say that the three former champions: Ghana, which has won three titles, as well as Egypt and Nigeria with two each, are the favourites for the 2013 title.
But going by the recent 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in which the pre-tournament favourites faltered, any of the other teams can spring a surprise and win the trophy.
Among the rank outsiders, Mali is the giant, having finished runner-up one, grabbed third place once and finished fourth twice.
The four remaining teams - Algeria, Benin, Gabon and debutant DR Congo - are considered greenhorns in the tournament.
Apart from winning the AYC title, which is one of the most coveted trophies in African football, the four teams that make it to the semi-finals of the championship will automatically qualify to represent Africa at the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey in June
It is therefore a tournament worth contesting for, which is what the participants are expected to do when the competition kicks off Saturday and runs through 30 March.
Pana 15/03/2013