S even-time champions Nigeria will face a challenging test in Group B of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they are set to battle Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast from April 26 to May 18.
The draw, conducted at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo, has placed Nigeria in the same group as Egypt for the second consecutive edition. The Flying Eagles triumphed over the Young Pharaohs 1-0 in the group stage of the last tournament, and they will be aiming for another strong start in Ivory Coast to boost their confidence in what promises to be a highly competitive tournament. The competition will also serve as the qualifiers for the 2025 U-20 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted in Chile from September 27 to October 19.
Nigeria secured a third-place finish in the previous edition of the U-20 AFCON. Adama Coulibaly, one of the officials overseeing the draw, described Group B as the toughest of the competition due to the pedigree of the teams involved.
Hosts Ivory Coast will compete in Group A alongside DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and a yet-to-be-determined representative from the Central African zone, forming a five-team group.
Cup holders Senegal have been placed in Group C alongside Zambia, Kenya, and Sierra Leone, with the latter two making their debuts at this level.
The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed finishers, will advance to the quarter-finals, making every match crucial for progression.
Flying Eagles Begin Preparations for AFCON
In preparation for the competition, Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu has invited 30 players to camp ahead of two friendly matches against Egypt, scheduled for February 25 and 27 in Cairo. The squad includes three goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders, and eleven forwards.
Nigeria’s U-20 team, champions of Africa in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015, secured their place in the AFCON finals by winning the WAFU-B U20 Championship in Lome, Togo, last year. In the final, they defeated Ghana’s Black Satellites 3-1 to claim the regional title.
The Flying Eagles, who were runners-up at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1989 and 2005, made a strong impression at the last edition in Argentina, coming close to reaching the semi-finals before suffering a narrow extra-time defeat to South Korea. With a history of success and a promising squad, Nigeria will be looking to make a deep run in Ivory Coast and secure qualification for the U-20 World Cup.
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