U-20 FOOTBALL
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in U20 Afcon dress rehearsal
Record champions, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will on Tuesday engage their hosts, Egypt in a strength-testing duel ahead of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations that will begin at month end.
In the original fixture before the championship was shifted from Cote d’Ivoire, both teams were to clash.
Now, their clash on this occasion will be a friendly one.
The Nigerian side had won the African title more than any other team having won seven times abd gunning for a record extending eighth time.
A delegation of 24 players and nine officials led by Head Coach, Aliyu Zubairu touched down at the Cairo International Airport aboard Egypt Air flight on Sunday evening.
The team is lodged at Jewel Sports City and Aqua Resort, and are expected to have their first training session on Monday evening.
Thier duel with Egypt is slated for 5pm local time (4pm Nigeria time) at the Cairo International Stadium.
Nigeria get their campaign underway against Tunisia at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Thursday 1st May.
The Africa U20 Cup of Nations serves as a qualifying tournament for the FIFA U20 World Cup finals scheduled for 27th September – 19th October in Chile.
All four semi-finalists at the tournament in Egypt will represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals.
Seven-time African champions, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, will begin their quest for a record-extending performance with a clash with Tunisia on May 1 in Cairo, Egypt.
The opening matchday takes place on Sunday, 27 April, with hosts Egypt playing Zambia at 21h00 (local time) at the Cairo International Stadium.
Earlier that evening, Sierra Leone will face South Africa at 18h00, in Group A in Ismailia.
The 17th edition of Africa’s flagship youth tournament will run from 27 April to 18 May 2025. Thirteen nations will compete across three venues in Cairo, Ismailia, and Suez.
Senegal will begin their title defence against Central African Republic in the opening Group C match on 2 May in Suez at 18h00 before DR Congo take on Ghana at the same venue at 21h00.
The competition is in a three-group format. Group A contains five teams, while Groups B and C feature four teams each.
The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals, with the tournament concluding on 18 May 2025.
The four semi-finalists will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025, continuing the continent’s proud tradition of global excellence in youth football.
For a full list of CAF U20 AFCON Egypt 2025 Fixtures, Times and Venues – CLICK HERE
Groups for the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025
Group A: Egypt, Zambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania
Group B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, Morocco
Group C: Senegal, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Ghana
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Morocco, drawn in the same Group B of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, Tunisia and Kenya, has unveiled their squad.
The coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, has listed 26 players for the tournament in Egypt from April 27 to May 18. The squad features a blend of domestic talents and overseas-based players, including Stade Rennais defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal and FC Twente centre-back Julien Misbahi. Union Touarga striker Mouad Dahhak, who has impressed this season in Botola Pro 1, also earns a call-up.
Here is the list of selected players:
Goalkeepers: Yanis Benchaouch (AS Monaco/France), Ibrahim Gomis (Olympique de Marseille/France) and Abdelhakim Mesbahi (AS FAR).
Defenders: Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal (Amiens SC/France), Smail Bakhty (Sturm Graz/Austria), Ismael Baouf (Anderlecht/Belgium), Issa Habri (Stade Rennes/France), Ahmed Khatir (SK Beveren/Belgium), Hamza Koutoune (OGC Nice/France), Julien Mesbahi (FC Twente/Netherlands) and Fouad Zahouani (Union Touarga).
Midfielders: Ismaël Aouad (RC Lens/France), Amine Boukamir (Charleroi SC/Belgium), Anass El Makkaoui (FUS Rabat), Naoufel El Hannach (PSG/France), Houssam Essadak (Union Touarga), Reda Laalaoui (FUS Rabat) and Saad El Haddad (Venezia FC/Italy).
Forwards: Ayman Erguigue (SD Huesca/Spain), Adam El Mokhtari (Elche/Spain), Ilias Boumassaoudi (FC Den Bosch/Netherlands), Mouad Dahak (Union Touarga), Jones Abdellaoui (RC Celta Vigo/Spain), Adnane Kharroubi (SM Caen/France), Othmane Maama (Montpellier/France), Mohamed Yassir Zabiri (Famalicao/Portugal).
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With the dropping out of Cote d’Ivoire, as both hosts and participants in the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations, now rescheduled for Egypt, a new draw will hold this Sunday.
The tournament will be staged from 27 April to 18 May, 2025.
The 13 teams will be split into three pools, Group A with five teams, and Groups B and C with four. The top two nations in each pool advance to the quarterfinals, along with the two best third-placed sides.
In the previous draw conducted in February, Egypt was placed in Group B alongside Nigeria, Morocco, and South Africa, which was aptly described as the ‘Group of Death’.
Traditionally, the host and automatic qualifiers are put in Group A. With Côte d’Ivoire vacating that position, Egypt is likely to move to Group A, while replacements for Côte d’Ivoire, such as Tunisia, will move to Group B in place of Egypt.
CAF wants the revised groups to reflect the tournament’s new structure and hosting arrangement.
The top four teams will qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, which runs from 27 September to 19 October.
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