Gambia battles Iran for supremacy

Two-time African U-17 champions, Gambia will have their first taste of action at the FIFA U-17 Championships today when they play Asian champions, Iran, at the 16, 000-capacity U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The Past

Both teams share the same pedigree in the competition. Both are participating in their second FIFA U-17 tournament after a poor outing in their first appearance.

In 2001, Iran got thrown out of the competition hosted by Trinidad and Tobago at the end of the group stage after the Hamid Farkoosh led team finished bottom of Group D without a point.

The young scorpions, as the Gambian team is known, did not fare better at the 2005 edition in Peru despite winning the African gold to qualify for their debut at the Worlds.

Under the tutelage of Ghanaian coach, Fred Osam-Duodu the western African country grabbed six points before crashing out on goal difference following a joint first place finish with Brazil and Netherlands in Group D.

The Present

However, at continental level, the two teams seem to have put the past behind them with their emergence among the new powerhouses of junior football.

On its way to continental victory at the CAF U-17 hosted by Algeria in March, the young scorpions won their five matches in the competition scoring 11 goals while conceding one, a declaration to the Iran, Netherland and Colombia who are lumped in Group C with them that the defensive worries, which contributed to its ouster from the Peru championship in 2005 is over.

Coupled with this, Gambia is displaying confidence since returning from a three-week training camp in the United Kingdom. Already, their head coach, Tariq Saigy, has warned opponents underrating his players to think again.

With 2009 CAF U-17 golden boot winning midfielder, Ebrima Bojang as well as the striking duo of Alasana Camara and Pateh Nyang on duty today, Iran may get a sting from the scorpions.

However, Iran is no push-over.

Since its 2001 disastrous outing, Iran has put in place a strong youth development programme that has brought it to par with their rivals on the continent and the rest of the world.

To book a place in this year's championships, Iran emerged champions in the Asian U-16 championships after scoring 15 goals and conceding 3 in 6 wins.

The onus is on Iranian safe hands Iman Sadeghi and the defence led by Bahram Maleki to keep Gambia's attack at bay while midfielder Mehrdad Yeganeh and striker Kaveh Rezaei bang in the goals.

Netherlands, Burkina Faso seek repeat

After four previous appearances with no medal, Colombia will open this year's campaign against Netherlands aspiring to better their fourth place finish under Coach Eduardo Lara in Finland six years ago.

However, statistics favours Netherlands who grabbed a bronze medal in their only appearance at a FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru in 2005. And the young Oranjes who are spoiling for a second time success will go for a win.

Colombia defence are saddled with the responsibility of keeping Netherland's strikers, Luc Castaignos and Shabir Isoufi at bay.

Isoufi and Castaignos, who play for Feyenoord Rotterdam in Holland, scored 15 goals to help Netherland qualify for the U-17 European Championship and in the tournament itself.

In Group D, 2009 CAF U-17 bronze medal winner Burkina Faso battles Turkey for three points at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

At first glance, Turkey appears to be whipping boys for Burkina Faso who whipped Argentina 2-0 to emerge the third best country at age-grade football in 2001.

The young Turks barely qualified for Nigeria 2009 after losses to host Germany (3-1) and the Netherlands (2-1) left them scrambling for footing in Group B of European U-17 Championships. With only a close-fought 1-0 win over England in their final group giving them the ticket.

However, the Turks who suffered a narrow 4-3 loss to Brazil at the semi-finals of their debut in the worlds in 2005 have stressed their intention to go all out this year.

And with Muhammet Demir leading the attack, Turkey may fulfil their world cup dreams.

Regulars open with underdogs

Despite making three previous forays to the FIFA U17, New Zealand are clear underdogs when they file out against Costa Rica which is making its fifth consecutive appearance.

Unlike Costa Rica which is a four times quarter final finish in eight appearances, New Zealand is yet to progress beyond the group stage. Overall, the All Whites, as the New Zealand team is known, have a lone victory in nine FIFA U-17 championship matches.

With Costa Rica, Turkey and Burkina Faso in the same group battling for a Round of 16 qualification, New Zealand may be in for a fourth disappointment outing.

However, with Steve Cain at the coaching helm and the duo of Blackburn Rovers' Cameron Lindsay and Rangers' Andrew Milne leading the attack the Costa Rican defence better watch out.

The duo were impressive in the qualifiers winning their three matches, scoring seven goals while conceding none.