Everything you need to know as Egypt readies to host U20 Africa Cup of Nations

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) together with the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) are putting final touches to the preparations of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations – one of the flagship youth events of CAF. 

The competition will kick-off on 19 February 2023 with the opening match between hosts Egypt and Mozambique at Cairo International Stadium at 16h00 local time (14h00 GMT).

In the competition, three stadiums will host the competition that will run until 11 March 2023. The venues are Cairo International Stadium, Suez Canal Stadium and Alexandria Stadium. 

Host Nation Egypt, who will be in their 18th participation at the tournament, are joined in the North Zone (UNAF) by Tunisia who finished top of their Zonal qualifiers with five points, a point ahead of Libya and Morocco.

Tunisia won one of their three qualifying games, against Libya and recorded two draws against Morocco and Algeria, but accumulated enough points to secure their eighth appearance in the competition.

In the West Zone A, Senegal and The Gambia, sailed through to the final face of the event. The Junior Teranga Lions of Senegal emerged winners of the WAFU Zone A, following their 1-0 win over The Gambia who secured a place for the continental jamboree as runners up in their zone.

Senegal has been runners up three times at the U20 AFCON (2015, 2017 and 2019) and will be making a comeback after missing the 2021 edition.

The Gambia on their part, will be in their sixth participation, with the hopes of doing better than their third place finish in 2007 and 2021.

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria and Benin will be the flag bearers of the WAFU Zone B in Egypt come February 2023. Benin finished top of Group A in the WAFU Zone B with seven points from three games, while the Flying Eagles finished top of Group B with four points and only edged out Burkina Faso on goal difference.

Nigeria, seven times winner of the U20 AFCON, will be making their comeback since 2019, in what will be their 18th appearance at the tournament, joint highest alongside Egypt. The Flying Eagles last won the competition in 2015.

For Benin, it will be only their third appearance, and a return since their last participation in 2013, with a third place finish in 2005, still their best ever run in the competition.

Mozambique and Zambia join from the COSAFA Zone. The Junior Chipolopolo of Zambia edged Mozambique 1-0 in the COSAFA final on 16 October 2022 at the Somhlolo National Stadium, Lobamba.

Mozambique's 2-1 win over South Africa in the semifinals, had secured them their fourth participation in the tournament.

From the CECAFA region, Uganda and South Sudan successfully booked their places in the championship with semifinal victories in the CECAFA U-20 Championship which served as the CECAFA region’s qualifying competition for the under-20 African showcase.

Central African Republic, who had beaten DR Congo and suffered defeat to Congo Brazzaville, defeated the defending champions of the UNIFFAC Zone Cameroon to secure their qualification, with six points.

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Cameroon who reached the quarter finals of the last edition of the U20 AFCON in Mauritania, have now crashed out with just two points.

In the other game, host Congo Brazzaville defeated DR Congo 3-0, to qualify with seven points.

Full Groups

Group A: Egypt, Mozambique, Senegal, Nigeria

Group B: Uganda, Central Africa Republic, South Sudan, Congo

Group C: The Gambia, Tunisia, Benin, Zambia