Egypt Saves The Day: Under-20 AFCON Finds New Home After Withdrawal Drama

This significant decision was made public on Thursday evening, marking a major shift in the tournament’s preparations. Initially, Côte d’Ivoire was designated to host the competition, scheduled from April 26 to May 18, 2025. However, just a month before the event, Côte d’Ivoire withdrew, citing “unforeseen circumstances” that made hosting unfeasible, raising concerns about the tournament’s future.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

CAF expressed gratitude to the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and the Egyptian Government for stepping in at short notice. In its statement, CAF said, “The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has today granted hosting rights for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025 to the Egyptian Football Association and the Egyptian Government. This follows a formal notification from the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire that they are unable to host the tournament due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Having successfully hosted the 2023 edition of the Under-20 AFCON, Egypt once again takes on the responsibility of organizing this prestigious tournament. The 2025 Under-20 AFCON will now kick off on April 27, allowing a tight but feasible preparation period.

Regarding the competition format, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been drawn into Group B, where they will face Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stages, while the two best third-placed teams will also qualify for the quarter-finals.

Moreover, the semi-finalists will automatically secure a spot in the 2025 Under-20 World Cup in Chile, adding an extra layer of motivation for the participating teams