Thursday’s build-up

Monastir 0-0 Junior Wasps

RWANDA’S U-17 side- the junior wasps need to work on their finishing after failing to find the net in Thursday’s goalless draw against Tunisia’s US Monastir youth side. The youngsters, who are in Tunis to continue their build-up to January’s Caf Africa Youth Championship failed to break Monastir’s defence.

However, head coach Richard Tardy still had something to smile about. In his post match remarks, the French tactician said he was impressed with the team’s defensive qualities and mobility throughout the 90 minutes.

"The defenders did a good job today. They read the game well and made it difficult for the Tunisians,” he told Times Sport in a brief phone interview.
"We now have to strengthen the midfield and attack in the coming games.”

The Junior Wasps are expected to play four more matches before jetting back on December 15.

With Rwanda and Egypt already guaranteed slots in the 9th edition, the six teams to join them with be revealed after this weekend’s second leg matches.

Holders Gambia march into today’s second leg tie with a 3-2 goal advantage over Tunisia. En route the final round, the Baby Scorpions edged out Morocco in the first round.

The Gambians, who also won the 2005 edition, are bent on rewriting history after failing to qualify for the 2007 edition in Togo.

Ghana’s Black Starlets, winners in 1995 and 1999 face a dicey test in Dakar against Senegal in their quest to reach the tournament after missing out on the last edition in Algeria.

Congo Brazzaville is also eager to prove that their first round victory over Nigeria was no fluke when they host Gabon in Brazzaville.

Gabon won the first leg 2-0.
Elsewhere, Burkina Faso play host to Reunion Island, Ivory Coast entertain Sierra Leone in Abidjan while Mali look set to complete a double over Cameroon in Bamako.
The 2011 Caf U-17 championship is slated to run from January 7-22 in Kigali and Rubavu.

Egypt secured their ticket following Mauritius’ exit while Rwanda is an automatic entry as hosts.

Ends