Accra, Nov. 5, GNA - Ghana's female U-19 team, the Black Princesses have been drawn against their Guinean counterparts in the preliminary round qualifiers for next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. The ninth All Africa Games bronze medallists will host the Guineans in the first leg of the two-tie event between January 11 - 13, 2008 with the return leg fixed for Conakry between January 25-27, 2008, according to the draw conducted at the Cairo headquarters of the continent's soccer controlling body.
Information gathered from the GNA Sports from the official website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), www.cafonline.com has it that the Black Princesses would be participating for the first time in the qualifiers, which has rivals, Nigeria as the main dominant force in the African continent.
The first leg clash comes just seven days shy of the opening clash of the Ghana 2008 African Cup of Nations between the male national teams of the two countries at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, Accra. The Black Stars are housed in Group A alongside the Syli Nationale of Guinea, Brave Warriors of Namibia and the Atlas Lions of Morocco for the 26th edition of the continent's biennial showpiece event. The winner of the Princesses-Guinea game will square off against the winner of the Lesotho - Botswana clash in the first round fixed for between April 4-6 and April 18-20, 2008. Sixteen countries across the continent will be playing in the qualifiers.
Africa has two slots for the fourth edition of the championships fixed for December 30, 2008 - January 17, 2009 in South America. Meanwhile, the national female U-17 team has been drawn against Zambia in the preliminary qualifiers for the first ever FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup scheduled for New Zealand next year. The U-17 side is to be dominated by the members of the current U-14 side, the Black Damsels who are expected to travel to Lusaka for the first leg between January 4 - 6, 2008 with the second leg coming off on January 18-20, 2008.
The Ghanaians will meet the winner of the Zimbabwe - DR Congo clash at the first round, which will see the winner qualifying automatically for the maiden edition of the global event.
The first leg of the first round is fixed for May 2 - 4, 2008 with return scheduled for May 16-18, 2008.
The African continent would be represented by three teams for the championships, slated for October 30, 2008 - November 16, 2008.
