Nigeria to play Morocco, S’Africa, Egypt in U-20 AFCON group stage

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn against Morocco, South Africa, and Egypt in Group B for the 2025 men’s U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

The AFCON group stage draw was held at the CAF headquarters in Egypt on Thursday.

The African countries were divided into three groups. Two groups comprise four teams each, while one has five countries.

The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the knockout. The best two third-placed teams will also get quarter-final slots. The semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile.

The AFCON is scheduled to be held in Cote d’Ivoire from April 26 to May 18.

The hosts are in Group A alongside Congo DR, Ghana, Tanzania, and the yet-to-emerge representative team of the Central Africa zone.

Senegal, the reigning champions, are drawn against Zambia, Kenya and Sierra Leone in Group C. 

Nigeria qualified for the competition after reaching the final of the 2024 WAFU-B competition held in Lome, Togo.

The team eventually lifted the WAFU B cup after defeating Black Satellites of Ghana 2-1 in the final.

The Flying Eagles finished third in the last AFCON after losing to The Gambia in the semi-final.

FULL DRAW

GROUP A: Cote d’Ivoire, UNNIFAC, DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania

GROUP B: Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco

GROUP C: Senegal, Zambia, Kenya, Sierra Leone