By Mark Gleeson BBC Sport, Abu Dhabi

Ivory Coast players celebrate qualifying for the second round

All three of Africa's remaining representatives at the World Youth Championship play in the second round on Monday as the competition's knock-out stage begins in the United Arab Emirates.

Egypt are the first team in action and their desire to pick a soft opponent backfired on them after they tried to avoid victory in their last Group D match against Japan on Friday.

Egypt went into the game believing they would meet Burkina Faso if they got a draw and finished second in their group, but instead they lost 1-0, finished third and are now pitted against Argentina - the defending champions.

Egypt meet the Argentines in the first of a double-headed bill in Dubai, starting at 1400 GMT, while the Ivory Coast take on the USA, including their 14-year-old Ghanaian-born sensation Freddy Adu, in the second match at 1700 GMT.

The Ivorians also face a stern test, especially in light of their tepid showing in the goalless draw against a weak Saudi Arabian side in their final Group E match last Friday.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, winners of group A, meet Canada in Abu Dhabi at 1700 GMT.

The Canadians just scraped through into the next round, and this match would seem the easiest of the lot for the African trio.

Meanwhile, Mali, who are the only African nation who failed to make it past the first round, have headed home.