The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Egypt the hosting rights for the 2025 Under-20 AFCON of Nations (AFCON). This decision comes after Ivory Coast withdrew from hosting due to unforeseen circumstances.
The tournament will kick off on Sunday, April 27, 2025, with the final set for Sunday, May 18, 2025. Egypt, which had previously submitted a bid, stepped in to replace Ivory Coast as the host nation.
CAF confirmed the change in a statement:
“The Egyptian Football Association and the Egyptian Government had previously submitted a bid to host the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025.”
Road to the Under-20 World Cup
The Under-20 AFCON is a crucial pathway to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. The top four teams will secure spots at the global tournament, which will take place in Chile from September 27 to October 19, 2025. A total of 24 teams, including four from Africa, will compete in the World Cup.
Kenya Set for Tournament Debut
Kenya’s Rising Stars will make their debut in the competition. They have been placed in Group C alongside defending champions Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Zambia. Kenya will represent the CECAFA region alongside Tanzania. Both teams qualified after reaching the CECAFA qualifiers final in Dar es Salaam last October, where Tanzania won 2-1.
Tournament Format
The competition will feature 13 teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. From there, the tournament will follow a knockout format until the final.
Ivory Coast’s Withdrawal
Ivory Coast pulled out of hosting just a month before the tournament. While the exact reasons remain unclear, reports suggest financial and logistical challenges played a role.
Egypt’s Hosting History
Egypt previously hosted the tournament in 2023, where Senegal won their first-ever title after a 2-0 victory over Gambia.
With Egypt again stepping in as hosts, excitement is building as teams prepare for Africa’s premier youth football competition.
