[2][3] However, aided by the development of international cricket during the late 90s and 2000s the possibility of holding the first African regional qualifier arose in 2001.

Of the five associate nations at that time,[4] Kenya already had automatic qualification for the 2002 U-19 World Cup due to their ODI status.

Whilst regionally, a second division of African affiliate nations was organised, including the chance of promotion,[11] a new international qualification tournament was introduced by the ICC.

This competition saw ten teams, two from each of the five cricketing regions, fighting for the six remaining places in the World Cup finals.

[12] The winners and runners-up of the 2009 Africa U-19 Championships, Uganda and Sierra Leone, made it through to the U-19 World Qualifiers, but neither finished high enough to progress to final.