AFCON U17 and U20 2025: Group Reveals and Stakes for African Football

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled on February 13, 2025, the composition of the groups for the final phases of the AFCON U17 and U20, which will be held in Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire, respectively. The qualified teams now know their opponents, paving the way for intense and strategic competitions for Africa’s young football talents.
In the AFCON U17, reigning champions Senegal will compete in Group C, alongside Gambia, Somalia, and Tunisia. The host country, Morocco, is placed in Group A, where it will face Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia. This tournament plays a crucial role in promoting young African football talents, a dynamic highlighted by former Senegalese international Souleymane Camara, who sees it as evidence of the growing stature of African football on the global stage.
The AFCON U20, scheduled from April 26 to May 18, 2025, presents even greater stakes, particularly with the automatic qualification of the four semi-finalists for the U20 World Cup in Chile. Côte d’Ivoire, the host nation, will have to prove itself in a highly competitive Group A, where it will face DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and a team from UNIFFAC. Group B is considered the toughest, featuring Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco, all formidable contenders. However, according to former Malian international Adama Coulibaly, teams like Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Ghana have the potential to stand out. He also emphasizes that football is unpredictable, and the outcome will ultimately be decided on the field.
With the roadmap for these competitions now set, it remains to be seen which nations will seize this opportunity to shine on both the continental and global stage.

A.P