Ivory Coast Advances in U17 African Cup of Nations Qualifiers After Libya’s Withdrawal
Côte d’Ivoire has received a boost in their quest to qualify for the 2015 U17 African Cup of Nations in Niger, following Libya’s withdrawal from the competition. This development ensures that the Ivorian youth team, known as the Young Elephants, have secured their place in the final qualifying round.
The Ivorian Football Federation (IFF) officially confirmed Libya’s exit on Wednesday. The decision comes after Ivory Coast’s commanding 4-0 victory over Libya’s Cadet Knights in the first leg, held last week in Tunis, which already put the Libyans at a significant disadvantage.
With the second-leg matches of the second qualifying round scheduled for next weekend, Ivory Coast now prepares to face the winner of the Mozambique-Angola tie in the third and final qualifying round. Mozambique holds the upper hand after a 2-1 victory in the first leg against Angola.
The final round is set for mid-September, with the winner earning a coveted spot at the U17 African Cup of Nations in Niger next year. This is a key step in nurturing young talent and preparing the next generation of Ivorian football stars.
