The final draw for the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place in Egypt on Sunday, April 13, at 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT) at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters.
Sierra Leone was originally placed in Group C, alongside Senegal, Kenya, and Zambia. However, this group is now expected to change due to a redraw. The initial draw for Ivory Coast has been canceled because the former host has decided to withdraw at the last minute.
The tournament runs from April 27 to May 18, 2025. Thirteen teams will compete in the tournament. Group A will consist of five teams, while both Groups B and C will have four teams each.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. The four highest-performing teams will qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, which will take place from September 27 to October 19.
Egypt, as the host country, is in position A1 in the draw. Nigeria, who came in third in the last tournament, is placed in position B1, and defending champions Senegal are in position C1.
Tunisia, Zambia, and the Central African Republic, who qualified last time, will be in Pot 1 and sorted into one of the three groups. Teams that did not qualify for the last tournament, such as Morocco, debutants Sierra Leone, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, and DR Congo, will be in Pot 2 and will fill the remaining spots in the groups.
DRAW PROCEDURES
Seeded teams: Egypt will be in position A1; Nigeria will be in B1 and Senegal will be C1.
Pot 1 for the teams from Level 2: Tunisia, Zambia and Central African Republic
Pot 2 of the teams of Level 3: Morocco, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa & DR Congo
The teams drawn from Pot 1 will go respectively into positions A2, B2 & C2
The teams drawn from the Pot 2 will go respectively into positions A3, B3, C3, A4, B4, C4 & A5
CAF U-20 AFCON, EGYPT 2025 QUALIFIED TEAMS
CECAFA: Tanzania, Kenya
COSAFA: South Africa, Zambia
UNAF: Egypt (hosts), Morocco, Tunisia
UNIFFAC: DR Congo, Central African Republic
WAFU A: Senegal, Sierra Leone
WAFU B: Nigeria, Ghana
