Accra. Nov. 6, GNA - Black Starlets coach, Frimpong Manso has expressed optimism in the team's ability to qualify for the Rwanda 2011 African U-17 Championship.

The Starlets laboured to a 2-0 win over their Senegalese counterparts in the final round first leg clash on Saturday in Accra, but coach Manso says the team has the tendency to go through.

"The result is positive. The players played very well and they managed to score two goals.

"The result serves a perfect security ahead of the second leg and I'm upbeat we will survive in the return encounter," Manso told the GNA Sports in a post-match interview.

His Senegalese counterpart, Cheickh Boucounta Cisse, however, insists his team can overturn the 2-0 deficit and inch through to the Rwanda-bound tournament.

"We played well but it's unfortunate we lost by two goals. We can also score two goals and go on to win the return encounter."

The Teranga Cubs hosts the return encounter on the weekend of November 19-21 with the winner qualifying for the continental championships slated for Rwanda next January.