Serengeti Boys to play 3 international friendlies in Qatar

What you need to know:

  • Serengeti Boys will open the U-17 Afcon finals, playing against Nigeria on April 14 before facing Angola on April 17. They will then take on Uganda in what will be their final group stage match. Group B comprises Guinea, Cameroon, Morocco and Senegal.

Dar es Salaam. The national U-17 soccer team Serengeti Boys will play three international friendly matches  in Doha, Qatar, ahead of U-17 Africa Youth Championships (Afcon) scheduled to be held in the country from April 14 to 28.

Currently the team is in residential camp in the city, training at the JMK Park grounds according to the head coach, Oscar Mirambo.

Mirambo said the Serengeti Boys will leave the country at the weekend. Earlier. The team was supposed to start a residential camp in Doha on March 20, but it was rescheduled due to the failure in securing entry visas for players.

He said that they have been given assurance that the team will travel and their trip will involve 28 players out of 33 who are in residential training.

Serengeti Boys are in Group A together with Nigeria, Guinea and Uganda. The youngstersare reportedly responding well to the coach’s instructions.Mirambo said his players were in high spirits, looking forward to performing well in the Nations Cup.

He expressed optimism that camp in Doha would give the players the much needed exposure. Serengeti returned home recently from Antalya, Turkey, where they played three matches during the Uefa Assist Championship.

Serengeti Boys will open the U-17 Afcon finals, playing against Nigeria on April 14 before facing Angola on April 17. They will then take on Uganda in what will be their final group stage match. Group B comprises Guinea, Cameroon, Morocco and Senegal.

Expectations are high in the country that Serengeti Boys will make history in the tournament and later compete in the U-17 Fifa World Cup to be held in Peru in October.