By Victor Kanayo
New opponents have emerged after the Confédération of African Football (CAF) conducted the final draw for the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025, at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo.
The tournament, scheduled to run from 27 April to 18 May 2025, will feature 13 nations battling for continental supremacy and four qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Chile 2025.
The draw revealed exciting group-stage fixtures, promising a thrilling start to the competition.
The Groupings
Hosts Egypt, three-time champions, headline Group A, where they will face Zambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Tanzania in what promises to be a closely fought group.
In Group B, record seven-time champions Nigeria are drawn alongside former winners Tunisia, as well as Kenya and Morocco, setting the stage for some of the tournament’s most anticipated matches.
Defending champions Senegal begin their title defence in Group C, which also includes the Central African Republic, DR Congo, and Ghana — the latter aiming to reclaim the title they won in 2009, the same year they became the only African team to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Format and Road to World Stage
The tournament will follow a three-group format.
Group A contains five teams, while Groups B and C feature four teams each.
The top two teams from each pool, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals, with the tournament concluding on 18 May 2025.
Beyond the continental crown, the stakes are high, as the four semi-finalists will earn tickets to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Chile 2025, continuing the continent’s proud legacy at the global level.
The draw sets the tone for what promises to be another memorable edition of one of Africa’s premier youth competitions.
