Defending champions Ghana have been paired with Nigeria, Cameroon and Gambia in the draw for the upcoming African U20 championship in March.
Hosts Libya are in the other group, along with Mali, Egypt and Lesotho.
The tournament takes place from 18 March to 1 April and the four semi-finalists will qualify for the U20 World Cup later in 2011.
Ghana are also defending World champions and the Black Satellites are determined to hold on to both crowns.
“It’s very important for us,” coach Orlando Wellington told the BBC before the draw was made.
“It’s a big challenge for me and the players – we have to work very hard to go to the World Cup. It’s not easy but financially and physically we are prepared.”
Wellington insisted that his crop of youngsters have even more potential than their double-winning predecessors.
“When you talk about technique this team is far ahead of the past champions,” he told the BBC’s African sports programme Fast Track.
“These people are tactically and technically [more] sound than the other team. The others play more aggressively but this team can play very good football.”
The four teams in each group will meet in a round robin format, with group winners and runners-up progressing to the semi-finals – and a place at the World Cup in Colombia in July.
