By Mark Ogagan
Perennial rivals Nigeria and South Africa will do battle in the same group when the CAF Under20 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Côte d’Ivoire in April.
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) conducted the Final draw on Thursday, 13 February 2025 in Cairo, Egypt.
The event was attended by CAF executives and invited guests with former Mali international Adama Coulibaly and Senegal legend Souleymane Camara acting as draw assistants.
The tournament, set to take place from 26 April to 18 May 2025, will feature 13 teams competing for continental glory and four qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025.
The draw produced exciting group stage fixtures, with heavyweight clashes expected from the opening rounds as record title holders Nigeria were among three former winners placed in the same group.
The Flying Eagles will play in Group B where they will face former champions Egypt and Morocco as well as South Africa.
In Group A, hosts Côte d’Ivoire will take on DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and a second representative from the UNIFFAC region, making it one of the most competitive groups.
Group C sees Senegal begin their title defence against Zambia, Kenya, and Sierra Leone, promising another fiercely contested group.
The TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON 2025 will follow a three-group format, with Group A containing five teams, while Groups B and C each feature four teams.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. From there, the tournament will proceed in a knockout format, culminating in the final on 18 May 2025.
Additionally, the four semi-finalists will book their place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 later this year, continuing Africa’s proud tradition of excellence on the world stage.
Senegal, the defending champions, are chasing a second title after winning in Egypt 2023. However, they will face stiff competition from Nigeria, the most successful team in the tournament’s history with seven titles (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015).
Ghana, another continental powerhouse, will look to reclaim the title, having won it four times and making history in 2009 by becoming the first and only African team to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Egypt, Morocco, and Zambia, all former champions, will also be looking to make an impact, while Côte d’Ivoire aims to shine on home soil.
The groups of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Cote
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