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Record winners Nigeria’s Flying Eagles among top seeds as CAF sets draw process for U-20 AFCON 2025

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Soccer

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been ranked among the top three teams for the 2025 TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the tournament’s draw procedure, Soccernet.ng reports.

The biennial youth competition will take place in Côte d’Ivoire from April 26 to May 18, 2025, featuring 13 teams from across the continent.

Alongside Nigeria, the qualified nations include Egypt and Morocco (North Africa), holders Senegal and Sierra Leone (WAFU A), Ghana and hosts Côte d’Ivoire (WAFU B), Tanzania and Kenya (CECAFA), South Africa and Zambia (COSAFA), and DR Congo (Central Africa).

Soccer Nigeria's Flying Eagles celebrate WAFU B success. Photo by IMAGO
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles celebrate WAFU B success. Photo by IMAGO

Nigeria won the WAFU B regional championship late last year, beating Ghana in the final.

— The NFF (@thenff) October 30, 2024

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, the most successful team in the tournament’s history with seven titles, finished third in the 2023 edition, which was won by Senegal.

As a result, they are among the top-seeded teams, alongside Senegal and hosts Côte d’Ivoire, as per Ghana FA.

2025 U20 AFCON: Tournament Format & Draw Procedure

The 13 teams will be divided into three groups:

Group A will have five teams, while
Groups B and C will each contain four teams.
The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will qualify for the quarterfinals, leading to the semifinals, third-place playoff, and final.

CAF’s ranking for the draw is as follows:

Senegal – Winners in 2023
Nigeria – Third place in 2023
Congo – Second in group stage
Egypt – Third in group stage
Zambia – Fourth in group stage

The hosts, Côte d’Ivoire, will automatically take position A1, while Senegal and Nigeria will occupy positions C1 and B1, respectively.

Soccer Nigeria's Flying Eagles celebrate WAFU B success. Photo by IMAGO
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles. Photo by IMAGO

The draw will be conducted using five pots:

Pot 1: Congo, Egypt, Zambia (to be drawn into A2, B2, and C2)
Pot 2: The remaining seven teams (to be drawn into various group positions)
Pot 3-5: Assigned for positions A3, B3, C3, A4, B4, C4, and A5

Nigeria Flying Eagles’ Legacy

Nigeria remain the dominant force in U-20 AFCON history with seven titles and has also finished as runners-up twice at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Soccer Nigeria's Flying Eagles celebrate WAFU B success. Photo by IMAGO
Nigeria Flying Eagles during the WAFU B-U-20 Championship. Photo by IMAGO

Their last U-20 AFCON triumph came in 2015, when they defeated hosts Senegal 1-0 in the final in Dakar.

With the 2025 edition set to showcase Africa’s brightest young talents, Nigeria will aim to reclaim their crown and extend their record as the competition’s most successful team.

Read MoreImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele

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