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| Congolese youth chase history |
1/26/2007 |
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Hosts Congo will book a historic berth in a maiden Fifa world championship if they can avoid defeat to Burkina Faso on Friday.
The hosts of the 2007 African Youth Championship meet the West Africans in their final Group A fixture in Brazzaville.
Both teams are looking to reach the semi-finals where they will join group leaders Gambia, who have already booked their place at the Fifa U-20 World Cup in Canada.
Any team reaching the semi-finals of the African youth championship automatically qualifies for the June finals.
GROUP A STANDINGS
Gambia 6 points
Congo 3 points
Burkina Faso 3 points
Ivory Coast 0 points
"We have a chance if we play well," Burkina Faso coach Sidiki Djirah told BBC Sport.
"We know that the game will sort out who is the best."
With both Congo and Burkina Faso claiming three points, the Burkinabe must win Friday''s match as they trail the hosts on goal difference.
Gambia, boasting six points, four goals scored and none conceded, play an Ivory Coast side with the last chance to find its first point and goal of the campaign.
"Let''s not underrate Ivory Coast - they have a very good team," Peter Bono Johnson told BBC Sport.
"It''s unfortunate that they have lost two games, but they can have a comeback because they would like to go home with honour."
Ivory Coast, who had been favourites to qualify from Group A, take on Gambia at 1300 GMT, with Congo and Burkina Faso kicking off at 1530 GMT.
Meanwhile, Group B concludes on Saturday when Zambia play Egypt and Nigeria face Cameroon.
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