With three weeks of exciting football action from the continent's top players, the 18th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations has officially begun in Egypt.
In addition to selecting Africa's U-20 champions, this esteemed junior competition, which takes place from April 27 to May 18, 2025, offers four highly sought-after berths as a direct qualifying path to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Here is all the information you want on the competition.
Host Country and Venues Following Côte d'Ivoire's withdrawal earlier this year, Egypt—three-time U-20 continental champions—was officially announced as the new host.
Four large stadiums are being used for the matches, which are being held in Cairo, Ismailia, and Suez:
Cairo International Stadium can accommodate up to 75,000 people.
Cairo's 30 June Stadium (30,000 seats)
Ismailia's Suez Canal Stadium (capacity: 22,000)
Suez Stadium (capacity: 27,000) in Suez
Egypt has a proven track record of hosting important continental competitions, and after hosting the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and the senior AFCON in 2019, it is anticipated to stage another successful event.
Structure and Group Phase
Three groups of five teams (Group A) and two groups of four teams (Groups B and C) comprise the 13 qualifying teams.
The two best third-place teams and the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals. A conventional knockout method will then be used.
These are the groups:
Group A: South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Egypt (hosts)
Group B: Kenya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Nigeria
Group C: Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal (reigning champions), and the Central African Republic
Round-robin play is used for all group-stage matches; a victory earns three points, a draw earns one, and a defeat earns none.
Rankings may be decided by head-to-head results, goal differential, goals scored, or even a drawing of lots in the case of tied points.
What's at Risk
The stakes are very high since the four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year, in addition to winning the continental crown.
With Senegal placing second in 2023 and Ghana winning in 2009, Africa has a history of dominating in U-20 World Cups. The competition for qualifying in Egypt 2025 is expected to be intense.
The Eligible Groups
The competition includes both fascinating newcomers and seasoned fighters.
Notable prerequisites include of:
Senegal: The reigning champions and the clear favourite to retain the title.
Nigeria: With a long history, they hold the record for seven consecutive victories at this level.
Three-time U-20 AFCON champions and hosts Egypt are keen for victory at home.
Ghana: The four-time champions want to take back control of the continent.
Morocco, the 1997 winners, is back to contend fiercely.
Debutants: Kenya and Sierra Leone are making historic debuts, indicating that youth football is becoming more and more popular across the continent.
Players to Watch Who Are Stars
There has a long history of discovering potential world stars in the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. Youth competitions like these are where legends like Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, and Mohamed Salah initially made their impression.
The following important players are anticipated to excel in Egypt in 2025:
Pierre Dorival (Senegal): The dynamic midfielder for Lyon is renowned for attacking.
Egypt's Mohamed Abdallah: The home audience will be counting on this talented midfield player.
Ghanaian attacker Jerry Afriyie is a rising star with precision finishing skills.
Nigeria's Kparabo Arierhi is a deadly striker who made an impression throughout the qualifications.
Big Contenders and Remaining Champions
As the reigning champions, Senegal hopes to maintain their recent supremacy in African youth football. They will, however, have fierce competition from hosts Egypt, Nigeria, and Ghana, all of whom have this kind of background.
With formidable teams that may go far in the competition, South Africa and Morocco also pose significant difficulties.
Egypt's Facilities and Preparation
The choice of Egypt as the host ensures top-notch planning. The training facilities are up to CAF's top standards, and all four stadiums have been renovated.
With a focus on security, hospitality, and medical services, spectators can anticipate a fun and secure tournament environment across Cairo, Ismailia, and Suez.
Historical Context
The CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations began as a home-and-away competition in 1979 and changed to a complete host-nation competition in 1991.
Its significance in the football calendar cannot be emphasised, as it has sparked the careers of several African greats.
Among the past champions are Nigeria (7 titles).
Ghana (4 championships)
Egypt (three titles)
Senegal, Cameroon, Congo, Angola, and Zambia have all won once.
Important Dates
April 27–May 9, 2025: Group stage: Quarterfinals on May 12, 2025
15 May 2025: Round of 15
18 May 2025: Final and third-place playoff
One of Africa's most famous stadiums, Cairo International Stadium, will host the final.
How to Pay Attention to the Action
Through CAF's official broadcast partners, SuperSport, beIN Sports, Canal+, and CAF TV's YouTube account, fans in Africa and abroad may watch the competition live.
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