U-20 FOOTBALL
Behold ! Junior Carthage Eagles who face Flying Eagles in the openingGroup B U20 Afcon
Tunisia return to the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations with fresh ambition and a renewed focus on restoring their status in youth football.
Drawn into a highly competitive Group B alongside Nigeria, Morocco, and Kenya, the Carthage Eagles will be banking on their mix of local and Europe-based talent to make a deep run in Egypt 2025.
Coach Mejdi Traoui’s side is targeting a top-four finish and a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup later this year. The team intends to reignite their youth football legacy.
Traoui prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation that encourages creative freedom in the final third, while maintaining defensive discipline through a solid midfield base.
The North African side will feature in the tournament’s 2025 edition in Egypt after gaining entry under unusual circumstances, but they are fully focused on making the most of the chance.
Tunisia have been drawn in Group B, alongside continental heavyweights Nigeria and Morocco, as well as a rapidly improving Kenya side.
Led by former international Mejdi Traoui, Tunisia bring a mix of domestic and European-based talent into the competition, hoping to reach the semi-finals and secure qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup later this year.
Egypt 2025 was anything but straightforward. After finishing third in the UNAF U-20 Championship—behind Egypt and Morocco—they initially missed out on automatic qualification.
However, when Côte d’Ivoire withdrew as hosts of the tournament, a spot opened up, and Tunisia were granted entry. During the UNAF qualifiers, Tunisia recorded victories over Libya and Algeria, but also showed defensive vulnerability, scoring and conceding five goals apiece.
The campaign revealed both their attacking promise and the need for greater consistency.
This marks Tunisia’s ninth appearance at the U-20 AFCON, with their first dating back to 1979. Their best result came in 1985, when they reached the final but fell short against Nigeria.
In recent years, Tunisia have twice finished in the semi-finals, earning fourth place and subsequently qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Their history shows a team capable of competing at the highest level when they find their rhythm.
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Record-extending seekers, Nigeria Flying Eagles, will open their U20 AFCON account with a duel with Tunisia on May 1.
It will be their sixth clash since the era of Henry Nwosu, who led the Nigerian attack in a 4-0 defeat of Tunisia in Lagos on 27 December 1980.
But Tunisia, the last entrant into the current edition of the U20 AFCON, boast of some players who could wreak havoc.
One of such is Khalil Ayari, a 20-year-old winger from Stade Tunisien. He is known for his electric pace, one-on-one ability, and direct style of play. He offers a consistent threat down the flanks.
Another one is Louey Ben Farhat, a rising star based in Germany. The 18-year-old midfielder from Karlsruhe U-19 has scored 13 goals in 27 games this season. His creative passing and eye for goal make him a key figure in Tunisia’s midfield.
Yet another one is Youssef Becha, a winger with CS Sfaxien. He is a skilful dribbler who thrives in wide spaces. His agility and delivery from the wings could prove decisive in tight matches.
Those are players the Flying Eagles have to watch out for when they face Tunisia in Cairo on May 1.
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Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles, on Tuesday defeated their Egyptian counterparts, Young Pharaohs, 2-1 in a pre-Africa U20 Cup of Nations friendly at the Cairo International Stadium.
Kparobo Arierhi, who scored three goals as Nigeria successfully defended its WAFU B U20 Championship title in Lome in October, scored Nigeria’s first goal in the 10th minute of the encounter after a good pass from Bidemi Amole.
The Young Pharaohs levelled up in the 65th minute through Ahmed Kaabaka, but a dominant Nigeria side shot into the lead again with seven minutes left on the clock after Precious Benjamin made no mistake from the spot, following a foul on Divine Oliseh in the hosts’ eighteen-yard box.
Seven-time African champions Nigeria achieved the morale-boosting victory less than 48 hours after arriving in the Egyptian capital for the 17th Africa U20 Cup of Nations, which gets underway on Sunday.
The Flying Eagles’ first match is against Tunisia on Thursday next week, before further games against Morocco and Kenya in Group B.
On their part, hosts Egypt, who head Group A, will take on South Africa on Sunday, before further games against Sierra Leone on 30th April, Zambia on 3rd May and Tanzania on 9th May.
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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.
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