Today
Group B
Nigeria  v Egypt  1:30pm
Ivory Coast  v S. Africa  3:30pm

The 16th African Youth Championship, Rwanda 2009 enters its second day today with group B matches at the Regional stadium, Nyamirambo.

In the first match, Nigeria takes on Egypt while Ivory Coast battles South Africa in the day’s second game.

Both Nigeria and Egypt have won the continental youth championship eight times between themselves.

The Flying Eagles have won the trophy a record five times as compared to three for the Young Pharaohs, who are also the second most successful team on the continent at this level.

Chasing a sixth title, Nigeria were the first foreign team to arrive in Kigali for the competition last Saturday a week and were soon followed by Ivory Coast, who also jetted in on the same day.

In contrast, Egypt along with South Africa were the last teams to arrive for the competition. The pair arrived on Friday, two days before the start of the tournament.

Ahead of the first but also the toughest match of this group, Egypt’s head coach Miroslav Soukup sounded confident but expressed his wary of the challenge from the Nigerians, who are also the tournament favourites.

"Nigeria are a very strong team, and it’s going a tough game against them but we’re looking forward to the challenge.

"We came here to play our best football and to win the trophy. I know it’s not going to be easy but we are well prepared,” noted Soukup.

Soukup traveled with a squad of 32 players including five who play their football professionally with European clubs.

In the same group, another former champion Ivory Coast take on South Africa in a match the West African side are favourites to win.

Ends