Youth

The Flying Eaglets have won the under-17 World Cup three times

An African nation may yet to have won the World Cup, as Pele famously predicted, but there have been no such shortcomings at U-17 level.

Nigeria are the current world champions after a 3-0 penalty win over Spain in the final of the 2007 Fifa U-17 World Cup, held in South Korea.

African Under-17 Championship finals in Algeria

The victory gave the Golden Eaglets their third U-17 world title, having won the tournament in 1985 and 1993.

Nigeria will defend their title on home soil in 2009.

Gambia are the current African champions having won the continental title in Algeria and have also qualified for the Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria.

Runners-up at the African championship Algeria, plus beaten semi-finalists Burkina Faso and Malawi, will also play at this year's global event.