Group Of Death: CAF To Conduct Fresh Draw For U20 AFCON

Group Of Death: CAF To Conduct Fresh Draw For U20 AFCON

By Niyi Busari

Confederation of African Football (CAF) may conduct another group draw for the 2025 U20 African Nations Cup coming up in Egypt, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

On 26 March 2025, it was announced that Ivory Coast had withdrawn as hosts, also forfeiting their automatic qualification spot. Egypt, the new host country was not immediately announced on 27 March 2025. 

In the draw conducted by CAF ahead of the competition, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria will play in Group B where they will face former champions Egypt and Morocco as well as South Africa.

In Group A, former hosts, Côte d'Ivoire are in the same group with DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and a second representative from the UNIFFAC region, making it one of the most competitive groups.

Group C sees Senegal begin their title defence against Zambia, Kenya, and Sierra Leone, promising another fiercely contested group.

Egypt, seeing Group B as group of death and likely not qualify, is in talks with CAF to conduct new draw such that the hosts will be in fair and easier group making qualification for knockout stages easier for the north African nation.

Despite this, the date for the commencement of the competition remain unchanged. The CAF age grade competition starts from 26th April to May 18th, 2025.