Seychelles coach Cliff Nolin has named his squad for the 2019 COSAFA Men’s Under-20 Championships to be staged in Lusaka, Zambia from December 4-14.

The islanders are hoping to make a big impression at the tournament to signal their potential form the future, with Nolin picking a selection he believes can take them far in the competition.

Seychelles have been drawn in Group C and open their campaign against the Angola on December 4, which is also the first match in the tournament.   Their second match is against Eswatini four days later, before they round out their pool play against Mozambique on December 9.

Only the top team in each pool advances to the semifinals, along with the best-placed runners-up.    Seychelles skipped the last two Under-20 tournaments so are appearing for the first time since 2016.

Their first appearance in the COSAFA Men’s Under-20 Championships came all the way back in 2000 when losses to Zambia (0-3) and Namibia (1-3) saw them ousted in the opening round.

They returned in 2004, but three heavy losses meant a first-round exit, while the following year they lost all four games in a five-team group.

Three more defeats followed in 2007, but the next year they claimed a first ever win with a 4-2 success over Namibia.

That proved a brief glimmer of hope as they side lost both matches in a shortened pool in 2011, and all three matches in 2013 and 2016.

 

Seychelles squad:

Basset Mathiew, Molle Brandon, Pauline Rino, Havelock Hedley, Mathiot Junihno, Motte Dean, Radegonde Harim, Samira Daniel, Camille Thiery, Esther Stan, Pleureuse Gino, Franchette Brandon, Jupiter Dylan, Riaz Justin, Henriette Ryan, Udylan Joubert, Warren Jeanne, Kelvin Cupidon, Kelsun Brutus, Josip Ravignia.