World title holders Ghana failed to qualify for the tournament as they finished third in the group stage of the Africa Youth Championship.

BBC: African quartet set for U20 World Cup

If Egypt also wins the bid to stage the World Cup in 2010, most of their youth players now - if maintained and able to produce consistent form - could form the backbone of the side for those finals.

BBC: Bright future for young Pharaohs

The members of the youth opera not only perform on the same home stage as WNO, but are also mentored by members of the company and other industry professionals.

BBC: Stephen fry

Cardiff, who lost 2-1 to Carmarthen at the same stage of the competition last season, started brightly with a side made up of reserve and youth team players.

BBC: SPORT | Football | Welsh | Carmarthen 2-3 Cardiff (aet)

But at this stage, it seems that the sheer complexity of youth unemployment, not to mention the diversity of stakeholders involved, is rendering the challenge almost impossible to solve.

FORBES: Left Out in the Cold