The announcement came during the launch and draw event held on Thursday at a local hotel, attended by committee members, representatives from the Ministry of Sports and Leisure, and the secretary general of the UFOA.
“With April 27’s national holiday approaching, we wanted to inaugurate this cup in tribute to the President of the Republic, who holds a special attachment to the youth. We opted for the younger age group to create a festive atmosphere. Additionally, we aim to rejuvenate the image of our football, as we haven’t organized such a competition since 2007. However, it’s this youth sector that should form the backbone of our national team,” stated Hervé Piza, president of the organizing committee, during the tournament’s launch.
The inaugural edition will feature six countries divided into two groups of three. Following the draw, Togo, as the host nation, was placed alongside Benin and Ivory Coast in Group A. Group B comprises Nigeria, Niger, and Mali.
The opening match will see the Togolese junior team face off against their Beninese counterparts on April 19. The second match of the day will feature Nigeria against Niger. After the group stage, two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The final is scheduled for April 27. The Kégué Stadium and the municipal stadium have been earmarked as potential venues for the tournament.
Ghana, initially expected to participate, faced scheduling conflicts, as explained by Aka Malan, the secretary general of the UFOA. “The absence of Ghana? They couldn’t make it because when we sent the invitations, they hadn’t confirmed their participation, as they are involved in a Nation Cup tournament in Namibia. Although they attempted to reconsider, the Namibians had progressed with Ghana as the flagship country. Ghana proposed to attend with a B team. They expressed their intention to participate in the second edition.”
Tags: Aka Malan, Benin, football, Ghana, Hervé Piza, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, President Cup, Togo
