African U20 football minnows, Mambas of Mozambique who are appearing at the CAF African U20 tournament for the second time on Sunday forced hosts, four times African Champions, the Young Pharaohs of Egypt to a barren draw as the finals of the continental championship opened in Group A at the Cairo International Stadium, Egypt.
Egypt appearing for the 15th time at the African finals and 8th time at the world cup level in that category was expected to have mincemeat of the South African region representative who in their first appearance was ousted at the group stage scoring only one goal and conceding 8.
The match in which both teams will still meet the Flying Eagles of Nigeria in that group easily passed for a drab match as both teams only made one shot on target each but the Egyptians were the disappointment of the encounter as they squandered 7 corner kicks to one meaning the Young Pharaohs are not good with set pieces though the North Africans dominated the match with 74 to 26% ball possession.
Egypt U20 team won the title four times in 1981; 1991; 2003 and 2013 making the Silver medal nce in 2005 and the Bronze medals thrice in 1993; 2009 and 2011 which the Mambas withstood outstandingly before a mammoth Egyptian crowd.
Mozambique did not come to the party with impressive credentials having lost their first International match to Zambia 0-3 in Maputo on 18th September 1984 before Zambia walloped them 5-0 at Lusaka on 30th September 1984.
Nigeria are up against the Teranga Cubs of Senegal in the second group match at 6pm on Sunday.
Four teams will represent Africa at the U20 World Cup holding in Indonesia 20th May to 11th June 2023.
Nigeria has been at the U20 World Cup 11 times and were runners up twice in 1989 and 2005 with an outstanding record of being the only country to have won the African title four consecutive times 19983; 19985; 1987 and 1989 as well as 2005; 2011 and 2015 to be a record 7 times title holders.