The Confederation of Football Association(Caf) president Issa Hayatou arrived in the country yesterday to grace the 16th African Youth Championship, which starts today at Amahoro stadium.

Hayatou arrived at Kigali International airport aboard Kenya Airways yesterday at 12:50 and was welcomed by Caf first vice president Seyi Memene, Caf chairman of the Organising Committee for Youth Competitions, Slim Aloulou and the local Organizing Committee/Ferwafa boss Brig. Gen. John Bosco Kazura.

The 63-year old African football administrator will be staying at Serena Hotel during the two-week long continental championship.

The matches will be held in Kigali’s newly renovated Amahoro National Stadium and the capital suburb’s Regional Stadium, Nyamirambo.

French-based Sport Five which owns the broadcasting of the two-week long tournament is set to show the games live.

Hosts Rwanda Mali, Cameroon and Ghana are drawn in Group A while South Africa’s Amajita is drawn in group B against favorite winners, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Fifa Under-20 World Cup hosts Egypt.

Rwanda opens the competition against Mali at Amahoro Stadium this afternoon before another cracker sees Ghana taking on arch rivals Cameroon.

The Caf African Youth Championship is a major international football competition for Caf nations, played by under-20 years-old players.

The Caf U-20 African Championship is held every two years with the top 4 teams qualifying for the Fifa World Youth Championship.

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