Soccer-Ghana qualify for World Youth Cup finals

ACCRA, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Ghana have qualified for the semifinals of the African Nations Youth Cup and the finals of the World Youth Cup in Nigeria in April with a 5-0 win over Angola.

Ghana beat Mali 1-0 on Sunday and Angola in Accra on Wednesday to become the first team to reach the last four of the 11th African Youth Cup.

Nigeria, playing in Group B in Kumasi, beat Guinea 4-3 on Monday. Zambia defeated Malawi 1-0 in the other opening match of the group.

Eight under-20 teams are taking part -- Ghana, Angola, Mali and Cameroon in Group A, Nigeria, Guinea, Malawi and Zambia in Group B.

The top two in each group qualify for the semifinals and automatically for the finals of the Youth World Cup in Nigeria in April.

If Nigeria, as looks likely, reach the semifinals, the third-placed teams in each group will play for a place in the World Cup. Nigeria qualify automatically as hosts.