African Youth Championship - Mali's national Under-20 football team left here Thursday for Johannesburg to take part in the 2011 African Youth Championship slated for South Africa from 17 April 17 to 1 May, PANA reported. Mali, which is in group A alongside South Africa, Lesotho and Egypt, will face the host country on Sunday in the opening match of the tournament. Group B comprises Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Gambia.

Three of the semi-finalists will represent Africa at the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia 29 July to 20 August, while the fourth team will engage in a playoff for a possible extra slot for the continent.

Pana 15/04/2011