From George Aluo, Praia
Ivorian side Deportivo and Bayelsa’s Restoration Starlets settled for a draw in the on going Africa Youth Cup in a match decided in Estadio de Sao Domingos Monday night.
Both sides put up a good fight in the Group B clash with semi final ticket in mind. A win for either of the teams would have guaranteed a semi final place.
But as things stand in the group, the outcome of the last group games would determine the two teams that would forge ahead.
While Bayelsa would be slugging it out with another Ivorian side Daraja FC, Deportivo would take to the pitch against Misto Barlavento. Barlavento, after Sunday’s 1-4 loss to Restoration Starlets bounced back to reckoning beating Daraja Academy by a lone goal.
Meanwhile, highly rated Portuguese youth side Benfica failed again to impress in their second match of Group A as they were forced to a 1-1 draw by Volcan Junior of Burkina Faso.
Benfica in their first game were forced to a 2-2 draw by one of the Cape Verdean teams in the tournament, Misto Sotavento.
Just like Group B, the semi final tickets in Group A remain wide open as all the teams would need result in their last game to qualify.
One of the tournament coordinators, Newman Ebiegberi while thumbing up all the teams for putting up a brilliant performance said the fact that no team is out until the last group games Tuesday shows how competitive things are in Praia.
“This is a tournament that is living up to its billings. No team is here to see how beautiful the Islands of Cape Verde are, but to play good football. We would see a worthy champion at the end of it all,” Ebiegberi said.
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