Ghana’s U-20 coach Sellas Tetteh has admitted that qualifying Ghana for a place at the 2009 World Youth Championships will be a tough task after the Black Satellites were drawn in the same group with hosts Rwanda, Cameroon and Mali for the Africa tournament in Rwanda.

Tetteh told Kickoff recently that the Black satellites will be home and dry if they finish in a semi final place. However, the Ghanaian born coach knows qualification for the World cup slot will be a tough task and is banking on a good take off against Cameroon in his side’s first game to set them off.

"It’s a fairly tough group but one that we can qualify from,” he said, adding that the competition for qualifying places would be a tough one.

"We need to get off to a good start in the opening match. It’s always important to win your first game which builds your confidence.

"Our opponents (Cameroon) are a tough side. Not only do we have a tough opposition in them (Cameroon) but the other group members are always tough.”

Ghana will take on Mali after the Cameroon opener before playing the host two days later and Tetteh is braced for two difficult games already.

"Mali is good in the youth competitions. And we have Rwanda, which is the host nation, so they would have the support behind them. It’s a tricky group but we are very confident of reaching the next round.”

The two week tournament is scheduled from January 18th to February 1st in the Rwanda capital Kigali.

The Black Satellites will play Mali, Cameroon and hosts Rwanda in Group A of the tournament for under-20 sides that kicks off in January.

Group B is equally tough as Under-17 World Cup winners Nigeria will face Egypt, Ivory Coast and South Africa.

The four semi-finalists from the tournament in Rwanda will automatically qualify for the 2009 Under-20 World Cup to be played in Egypt.

If hosts Egypt reach the last four in Rwanda then the 5th place team will qualify for the Under-20 World Cup.

Ends