The U-20 Ninho Boys embark on another challenge in 2024. With a full schedule of matches, Mengão travels to Uruguay on Wednesday for the CONMEBOL Libertadores. Coach Mario Jorge spoke about his preparations and what he expects from the team, which is in Group C along with Aucas-EQU, Sporting Cristal-PER, and Defensor-URU, based in Maldonado.

Since the return of the São Paulo Junior Football Cup, and representing the professional team in the Campeonato Carioca at the end of January and contributing to the undefeated campaign in the competition, Mengão's U-20 team has been preparing for the main tournament of 2024. In the last week before the trip to Maldonado, the preparation intensified. Although Mengão's debut is on March 04th, at 03 pm (Brasília time), the delegation travels this Wednesday (18) to Uruguay to follow Conmebol protocols.

The Ninho Boys faced Madureira during this phase of the team's preparation for the Conmebol Libertadores, winning 4-0 with goals from Weliton (2x), Zé Welinton and Wallace Yan. The team took a 3-0 lead in the first half.

"We were able to carry out everything we had planned for this moment. Having the boys here, especially Rayan, Lorran, and Carbone, back from the professional team, gave the team a better balance, as they were somewhat missing these players. We performed very well against Madureira's U-20s. We defined what the teams would do in each half. So the first half was very good, and the second half too, but the first half had a slight advantage," said the coach, adding:

"There are still a few things to happen before then. Some players have had a virus, others are injured, but they'll have time to treat them by then. However, I think we've managed to take care of everything. We've taken every possible precaution in terms of physical, clinical, technical, and tactical aspects, and I believe we'll be in a position to thrive within the competition itself. I expect a very committed, very competitive team, where the players are very focused on what they have to do. So I believe we'll deliver a very good level of competition, which is necessary for the Libertadores. We have everything we need to do well in the competition."

Mengão will debut in the CONMEBOL Libertadores next week, on March 4th, against the local team: Defensor-URU, at 03 pm. The second round of Group C will be against Aucas-EQU, at 18 pm, on March 15th, and Flamengo will close the group stage on March 7th, against Sporting Cristal-PER, at 03 pm. All games will be at the Domingo Brugueño stadium in Maldonado.