Mauritania beat Algeria in a two-leg preliminary round for the 16th edition of African Youth Championship Rwanda 2009, to set up an enticing first-round qualifier tie with The Gambia Under 20 team, Observer Sports can reveal.

The Baby Scorpions, who were given a bye in the preliminary round, will first host their West African counterparts during the final weekend of June before travelling to Nouakchott two weeks later for the return-leg.

The Gambia Under 20 squad, who are eyeing their second appearance in Africa’s second-most prestigious football competition, yesterday started collective training under the watchful eyes of their new Italian coach, Lorenzo Rubinacc.

The Italian was hired in March 2008 to lead the Baby Scorpions, replacing coach Peter Bonu Johnson, who has been made the caretaker coach for the senior Scorpions.