Under-17 World Cup: Colombia announce 21-member squad

The South American nation are the first team to land in India ahead of the Under-17 World Cup next month…

Under-17 team are to arrive on the 20th of this month at Delhi for their final set of preparations in Delhi ahead of the Under-17 World Cup.

The Los Cafeteros shall undergo training at the Conscient Football School in Gurugram, the same facility which will be utilized by the Under-17 squad.

Coach Orlando Restrepo announced the final 21-member squad which shall compete at the World Cup in . Some of the key absentees from the squad are Kevin Moreno, Heyler Gomez, Juan David Martinez, Marlon Tunjano, Alejandro Arboleda, Elson Mosquera, Wanderley Wandurraga and Carlos Mario Carranza.

Interestingly, right-back Mateo Garavito, who was one of the star players in Colombia's performance in the South American Under-17 Championship, has been left out of the squad as well.

" are a stroong, physical team and have had good performances at the World Championship before. India is tidy but they do not have great technique while USA are the strongest of all in our group," said Restrepo.

Colombia are grouped alongside India, USA and Ghana in Group A of the Under-17 World Cup. Their first game is on October 6 against Ghana in Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Nicolás Gómez (Deportivo Cali), Kevin Leonardo Mier (Atlético Nacional), Daniel Melo (Liga del Atlántico).

Defenders: Andrés Felipe Balanta (Deportivo Cali), Robert Andrés Mejía (Universitario de Popayán), Christian Andrade (Millonarios), Thomas Gutiérrez (Liga de Antioquia), Juan Sebastián Peñaloza (Liga de Antioquia).

Midfielders: Gustavo Adolfo Carvajal (América), Luis Miguel López (Santa Fe), Yair Meneses (Envigado), Andrés Felipe Perea (Atlético Nacional), Brayan Arley Gómez (Atlético Nacional), Guillermo Tegue (Liga de Antioquia), Etilso Martínez (Liga de Antioquia), Fabián Steven Ángel (Barranquilla FC).

Strikers: Déiber Caicedo (Deportivo Cali), Deyman Andrés Cortés (Atlético Huila), Jaminton Campáz (Deportes Tolima), David Barrero (Liga de Antioquia), Juan David Vidal (Barranquilla FC).