WAFU A and B: All Eyes on Ghana As U-20 AFCON Qualifier Draw Takes Place Friday

WAFU A and B: All Eyes on Ghana As U-20 AFCON Qualifier Draw Takes Place Friday

By Niyi Busari 

The official draw for the inaugural U-20 WAFU A & B Boys Cup will take place on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. local time at the WAFU B headquarters in Ghana, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

This marks the beginning of preparations for a historic youth football tournament scheduled to be held in Accra from June 15 to 30.

Ghana, fresh off the successful hosting of the CAF African Schools Football Championship in April, has been confirmed as the host nation for the combined WAFU A and B U-20 tournament. Sixteen nations from across West Africa will participate in the event, which is designed to promote youth football development across both WAFU zones.

The participating countries include Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone (from WAFU A), and Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, and host Ghana (from WAFU B).

This year’s competition marks the first time the two regional bodies will merge their U-20 tournaments into a single event, offering expanded opportunities for competitive match experience and scouting and serve as qualifier for the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Matches will be played at the Ghanaian Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, with the final to be held at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra.

The new format is seen as a major step forward for youth development in West Africa, providing players with a broader platform to showcase their talent on the international stage.