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U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

African tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, known for short as the U-20 AFCON and for sponsorship purposes as TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and previously known as the African Youth Championship and the African U-20 Championship, is the biennial African youth football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for its nations consisting of players under the age of 20. It serves as the African qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Organiser(s)CAF
Founded
  • 1979 (qualification)
  • 1991 (tournament)
RegionAfrica
Teams12
Quick facts Organiser(s), Founded ...
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Organiser(s)CAF
Founded
  • 1979 (qualification)
  • 1991 (tournament)
RegionAfrica
Teams12
Current champions South Africa (1st title)
Most championships Nigeria (7 titles)
2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
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History

In 1979, FIFA created a world championship for upcoming footballers, causing CAF to install a home-and-away qualification tournament for African nations called the African Youth Championship which also crowned the tournament's champions. In 1991, CAF upgraded the tournament into a full-scale tournament contested by 8 in a chosen host nation.

CAF changed the name of this competition to the African U-20 Championship for the 2011 edition so as to distinguish it from the U-17 competition. On 6 August 2015, the CAF Executive Committee decided to change the tournament's name to the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in line with the flagship Africa Cup of Nations tournament.[1] However, the name on the official competition logo after 2015 reads as the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

On 21 July 2016, French energy and petroleum giant TotalEnergies (formerly Total S.A.) secured an 8-year sponsorship package from CAF to support its competitions.[2][3]

Since the 2021 edition, the tournament has been contested by 12 teams.[4]

On 28 April 2026, CAF awarded Ghana the hosting rights for the upcoming 2027 edition, thus Ghana will host its second tournament edition and first since 1999 (which they won) in the same year the country will celebrate 70 years of independence.[5][6][7]

Tournament summary

African Youth Championship (Qualification)


More information Edition, Year ...
Edition Year Host nation Final Third Place
Champion Score Second Place
2 1979 Home sites
Algeria		 2–1
Guinea
Ethiopia
Nigeria
2–3
3 1981 Home sites
Egypt		 2–0
Cameroon
Algeria
Nigeria
1–1
4 1983 Home sites
Nigeria		 2–2
Ivory Coast
Algeria
Guinea
2–1
5 1985 Home sites
Nigeria		 1–1
Tunisia
Ivory Coast
Ethiopia
2–1
6 1987 Home sites
Nigeria		 2–1
Togo
Morocco
Somalia
3–0
7 1989 Home sites
Nigeria		 2–0
Mali
Algeria
Ivory Coast
2–1
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African Youth Championship (Host)

More information Edition, Year ...
Edition Year Host nation Final Third Place Match
Champion Score Second Place Third Place Score Fourth Place
8 1991 Egypt
Egypt		 2–1
Ivory Coast
Ghana		 2–0
Zambia
9 1993 Mauritius
Ghana		 2–0
Cameroon
Egypt		 3–0
Ethiopia
10 1995 Nigeria
Cameroon		 4–0
Burundi
Nigeria		 1–0
Mali
11 1997 Morocco
Morocco		 1–0
South Africa
Ivory Coast		 2–0
Ghana
12 1999 Ghana
Ghana		 1–0
Nigeria
Cameroon		 2–1
Zambia
13 2001 Ethiopia
Angola		 2–0
Ghana
Egypt		 2–0
Ethiopia
14 2003 Burkina Faso
Egypt		 4–3 (a.e.t.)
Ivory Coast
Mali		 1–1 (5–4 p)
Burkina Faso
15 2005 Benin
Nigeria		 2–0
Egypt
Benin		 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)
Morocco
16 2007 Republic of the Congo
Congo		 1–0
Nigeria
Gambia		 3–1
Zambia
17 2009 Rwanda
Ghana		 2–0
Cameroon
Nigeria		 2–1
South Africa
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African U-20 Championship

More information Edition, Year ...
Edition Year Host nation Final Third Place Match
Champion Score Second Place Third Place Score Fourth Place
18 2011[8] South Africa
Nigeria		 3–2 (a.e.t.)
Cameroon
Egypt		 1–0
Mali
19 2013 Algeria
Egypt		 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Ghana
Nigeria		 2–1
Mali
20 2015 Senegal[9]
Nigeria		 1–0
Senegal
Ghana		 3–1
Mali
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U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

More information Edition, Year ...
Edition Year Host nation Final Third Place Match
Champion Score Second Place Third Place Score Fourth Place
21 2017 Zambia
Zambia		 2–0
Senegal
Guinea		 2–1
South Africa
22 2019 Niger[10]
Mali		 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)
Senegal
South Africa		 0–0
(5–3 p)
Nigeria
23 2021 Mauritania[11][12]
Ghana		 2–0
Uganda
Gambia		 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
Tunisia
24 2023 Egypt[13]
Senegal		 2–0
Gambia
Nigeria		 4–0
Tunisia
25 2025 Egypt[a]
South Africa		 1–0
Morocco
Nigeria		 1–1
(4–1 p)
Egypt
26 2027 Ghana[5][6][7] – –
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Performance by nation

More information Rank, Team ...
Rank Team Champions Runners-up Third-place Fourth-place Semi-finalists
1  Nigeria 7 (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, 2015) 2 (1999, 2007) 5 (1995*, 2009, 2013, 2023, 2025) 1 (2019) 2 (1979, 1981)
2  Ghana 4 (1993, 1999*, 2009, 2021) 2 (2001, 2013) 2 (1991, 2015) 1 (1997) –
3  Egypt 4 (1981, 1991*, 2003, 2013) 1 (2005) 3 (1993, 2001, 2011) 1 (2025) –
4  Cameroon 1 (1995) 4 (1981, 1993, 2009, 2011) 1 (1999) – –
5  Senegal 1 (2023) 3 (2015*, 2017, 2019) – – –
6  Mali 1 (2019) 1 (1989) 1 (2003) 4 (1995, 2011, 2013, 2015) –
7  South Africa 1 (2025) 1 (1997) 1 (2019) 2 (2009, 2017) –
8  Morocco 1 (1997*) 1 (2025) – 1 (2005) 1 (1987)
9  Zambia 1 (2017*) – – 3 (1991, 1999, 2007) –
10  Algeria 1 (1979) – – – 3 (1981, 1983, 1989)
11  Angola 1 (2001) – – – –
 Congo 1 (2007*) – – – –
12  Ivory Coast – 3 (1983, 1991, 2003) 1 (1997) – 2 (1985, 1989)
13  Gambia – 1 (2023) 2 (2007, 2021) – –
15  Guinea – 1 (1979) 1 (2017) – 1 (1983)
16  Tunisia – 1 (1985) – 2 (2021, 2023) –
17  Togo – 1 (1987) – – –
 Burundi – 1 (1995) – – –
 Uganda – 1 (2021) – – –
20  Benin – – 1 (2005*) – –
21  Ethiopia – – – 2 (1993, 2001*) 2 (1979, 1985)
22  Somalia – – – – 1 (1987)
23  Burkina Faso – – – 1 (2003*) –
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* = As hosts

Champions by region

More information Regional federation, Champion(s) ...
Regional federation Champion(s) Title(s)
WAFU (West Africa) Nigeria (7), Ghana (4), Senegal (1), Mali (1) 13
UNAF (North Africa) Egypt (4), Morocco (1), Algeria (1) 6
COSAFA (Southern Africa) South Africa (1), Zambia (1), Angola (1) 3
UNIFFAC (Central Africa) Cameroon (1), Congo (1) 2
CECAFA (East Africa) - 0
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Participating nations

More information Team, Years ...
Team
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989		 Egypt
1991		 Mauritius
1993		 Nigeria
1995		 Morocco
1997		 Ghana
1999		 Ethiopia
2001		 Burkina Faso
2003		 Benin
2005		 Republic of the Congo
2007		 Rwanda
2009		 South Africa
2011		 Algeria
2013		 Senegal
2015		 Zambia
2017		 Niger
2019		 Mauritania
2021		 Egypt
2023		 Egypt
2025		 Ghana
2027		 Years
 Algeria 1stSFSF1R×SF••••••••••GSו•••• 6
 Angola ××1R1R×PR×ו•GS1st•GS•••••••••• 6
 Benin ×××××ו×ו×××3rdו•GS•×••QF• 3
 Burkina Faso ×××××××ו•×•4th•GS•••••GSQF•• 4
 Burundi ××××××××2nd•×•×•••×••GS••• 2
 Cameroon 2R2ndQFQF1R1RGS2nd1st•3rdGS••GS2nd2nd••GS•QF•• 16
 Central African Republic ×2R×××××××××××××ו××וQFGSGS 4
 Congo ××××××××ו×××1st•••GS•••QF 3
 DR Congo ×××××1R××××××××ו•GS•••••QF 3
 Egypt 1R1stQF1RQFQF1st3rd•GS•3rd1st2ndGSGS3rd1st•GS•×GS4th 19
 Equatorial Guinea ×2R×××××××ו•×•×•××ו•×• 1
 Eswatini ××1R××××××ו••××××ו••••• 1
 Ethiopia SF1R×SF1R×GS4th•••4th•×•××ו••••• 7
 Gabon ×PR1R××QF××ו•GSו••GS•••×ו 5
 Gambia ××1RPR×ו×××וו3rd•GSו•3rd2nd• 6
 Ghana ×××1RQF3rd1st•4th1st2ndGS••1stGS2nd3rd•GS1st•QFq 16
 Guinea 2nd1RSFQF1R1R×GS•GSו••••••3rd•••• 9
 Ivory Coast ××2ndSFQFSF2ndו3rd•×2ndGSGSGS••GS••••• 11
 Kenya 1R×××××ווו×ו••••••×GS 2
 Lesotho ×××××QF•×•×••×GS••GS×ו•••• 3
 Liberia ××××PR×××ו×××וו•••×•• 1
 Libya 1R××××××××ו•••••×••••••• 1
 Malawi ×××××××ו×GS•×ו••×•×•••• 1
 Mali ×××××2nd••4thGSGSGS3rdGS•GS4th4th4thGS1st••• 13
 Mauritania ×1R××1Rו•×•×××ו•×••••GS•× 3
 Mauritius 2R××××××GSGS•×•×ו•••×••×•× 3
 Morocco 2R1RQFQFSF1R•GS•1st••4thGS•••••••QF•2nd 12
 Mozambique ×××PRQF××××ו••••••••••GSGS• 4
 Namibia ××××××××××ו•••••••••GS•• 1
 Niger ×××××וו×××ו•×•••GS••• 1
 Nigeria SFSF1st1st1st1st×GS3rd•2ndGS•1st2nd3rd1st3rd1st•4th•3rd3rd 19
 Rwanda ×××××××××ו×ו•GS•••••×ו 1
 Senegal ××PR××PR•GSGS•••••••••2nd2nd2nd•1stQF 9
 Sierra Leone ×××××ו××ו×ו•••••••••QF 1
 Somalia ××××SF×××××ו••×××ו•••×× 1
 South Africa ×××××××ו2nd•GSGS••4thGS•GS4th3rd••1st 9
 South Sudan Country didn't exist: part of Sudan××ו•QF• 1
 Sudan ××1R1R×××וGS•••••••••GS•••• 4
 Tanzania ××××××××ו•••××ו••×•GS•GS 2
 Togo ×1R1R×2nd×ו•×•×•×•×•×•×•••• 3
 Tunisia 2R2R1R2ndQF1R••••••••••••••4th4thGS 8
 Uganda ×××PRPRו•×ו••×ו••×•2ndQF• 4
 Zambia ×××1R1R×4th×GSGS4th•••4th•••GS1st••GSGS 11
 Zimbabwe ×2RQFQFו•×•×ו•••××ו••×• 3
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Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place
  • 4th – Fourth place
  • SF – Semi-finals
  • QF – Quarter-finals
  • GS – Group stage
  • PR – Preliminary round
  • 1R – First round
  • 2R – Second round
  • q – Qualified
  •     — Hosts
  •  ×  – Did not enter
  •  •  – Did not qualify
  •  ×  – Withdrew before qualification
  •     — Withdrew after qualification
  •     — Disqualified after qualification

Participating nations by year of debut

Participating nations by debut (Until 1989, counted Round 1, after 1991 counting Final 16)

Before 1989

After 1991

Player awards

More information Year, Player of the tournament ...
Year Player of the tournament Top goalscorer
1991 Egypt Moustafa Sadek
1993
1995
1997 South Africa Benni McCarthy South Africa Benni McCarthy
1999 Guinea Ousmane Bangoura
2001 Angola António Mendonça Angola Pedro Mantorras
2003 Egypt Emad Moteab
2005 Morocco Mouhcine Iajour
2007 Republic of the Congo Fabrice N'Guessi[17] Zambia Fwayo Tembo
2009 Ghana Ransford Osei Ghana Ransford Osei
2011 Cameroon Edgar Salli Nigeria Uche Nwofor
2013 Egypt Saleh Gomaa Nigeria Aminu Umar
2015 Ghana Yaw Yeboah Nigeria Musa Muhammed
2017 Zambia Patson Daka South Africa Luther Singh
2019 Senegal Moussa N'Diaye Senegal Youssouph Mamadou Badji
2021 Ghana Abdul Fatawu Issahaku Uganda Derrick Kakooza
2023 Senegal Lamine Camara Senegal Pape Diop
2025 South Africa Tylon Smith Sierra Leone Momoh Kamara
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FIFA U-20 World Cup performances

More information Team, Total ...
TeamTunisia
1977		Japan
1979		Australia
1981		Mexico
1983		Soviet Union
1985		Chile
1987		Saudi Arabia
1989		Portugal
1991		Australia
1993		Qatar
1995		Malaysia
1997		Nigeria
1999		Argentina
2001		United Arab Emirates
2003		Netherlands
2005		Canada
2007		Egypt
2009		Colombia
2011		Turkey
2013		New Zealand
2015		South Korea
2017		Poland
2019		Argentina
2023		Chile
2025		Azerbaijan
Uzbekistan
2027		Armenia
Georgia (country)
2029		Total
 AlgeriaQF1
 AngolaR21
 BeninR11
 Burkina FasoR21
 BurundiR11
 CameroonR1R1QFR2R1R26
 CongoR21
 EgyptQFR13rdR2R1R2R2R1R19
 EthiopiaR11
 GambiaR2R22
 Ghana2nd4thQF2nd1st3rdR27
 GuineaR1R12
 Ivory CoastR1R1R1R1R25
 MaliR13rdR1R1R13rdQF7
 MoroccoR1R24th1st4
 NigeriaR13rdR12ndQF2ndQFR2QFR2R2R2QFR214
 Senegal4thR2QFR14
 South AfricaR1R2R1R1R25
 TogoR11
 TunisiaR1R1R23
 ZambiaR1R2QF3
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Legend

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Originally scheduled to be hosted in Ivory Coast,[14][15] who pulled out of hosting a month before commencement "due to unforeseen circumstances".[16]

References

External links

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