Somalia U17 head coach Nur Mohamed Amin believes his team is prepared to showcase what Somali football is all about in the opening game of the AFCON U17.

When Somalia takes the field against Algeria in the tournament’s inaugural encounter on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, it will be the first time they have ever competed in the final round of a continental championship at any age level.

“I have confidence in our players. We are lined up to face Algeria, Senegal and Congo, all of which are big teams and a motivating factor for us.

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“We will see how the first game goes because I am confident that we can compete,” the tactician said.

Coach Nur acknowledges that playing Algeria would put him in the unknown, but he remains confident that their preparation will be sufficient for a successful performance.

“We have no idea about the Algerian team, but we have a squad that has a strategy.

“We know always that Algeria is a strong competitor.

“They have more good players and professionals, but we will be there to show our worth and prove ourselves,” added the coach.

Nur hopes that participating in the U17 competition will open doors for Somali football, both for the youth teams and the senior team, since this will serve as a breeding ground for future Ocean Stars superstars.

Defender Abdulle Abdulahi isn’t holding back when it comes to the team’s mission in Algeria, though.

“We have confidence in ourselves as a team.

“We came to Algeria for the competition, and we hope to be the heroes at the end,” the Heegan SC stopper said during Friday’s pre-match press conference.