Author: SULEIMAN JONGO
AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE U-20 national team, dubbed Ngorongoro Heroes will pitch a camp today in Arusha to prepare for the forthcoming 22nd edition of U-20 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Mauritania next month.
Mauritania confirmed its readiness to host the event in February last year after being awarded the host right by the African governing football body (CAF). Tanzania qualified for the event despite losing to Uganda 4-1 in the finals of Under-20 Cecafa regional tournament held at Black Rhino Stadium in Arusha last December.
Uganda also made it through by virtue of being Cecafa U-20 champions. The Arusha regional event was served as part of qualification (Central-East Zone) for the Mauritanian event that will see a total of 16 countries battling it out for the continental honours.
This will be the first time for Mauritania to host the event, but will be making their third appearance in the event after doing so in 1981 and 1987. The 2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations will be the 16th edition of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations organised for players aged 20 and below.
This will be the first edition in Africa U-20 Cup of Nations to have expanded to 12 teams instead of eight. The top four teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia as the CAF representatives.
According to Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), 40 players from different clubs will assemble today ahead of the event. The team last December camped in Saudi Arabia as part of preparations.
