Côte d’Ivoire has officially been named as the host nation for the 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The announcement was made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during an executive committee meeting held in Marrakech, Morocco.
This decision comes after the competition was initially slated to take place in South Africa.
The tournament is scheduled to commence in March 2025, bringing together various youth teams from across the continent. Note that the Flying Eagles of Nigeria are qualified to participate in the tournament.
The Under-20 AFCON serves as a qualifying event for the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will take place in Chile.
The top four teams that reach the semi-finals will secure their spots in the World Cup, providing a significant opportunity for young African footballers to showcase their talents on a global stage.
In a related development, Finidi George, the technical adviser for Rivers United, has expressed his support for two of his players, Stephen Manyo and Taiwo Abdulrafiu, as they aim to secure a place in the final squad for Nigeria’s upcoming African Nations Championship qualifying fixture against their rivals Ghana.
Both players have received invitations to join the national team for this important match.
“I had a conversation with both players and conveyed my best wishes to them,” Finidi stated in an interview with Rivers United Media.
He emphasized, “They will join the squad of 18 players, and I am optimistic that They will make the final selection for the game. If not, we will explore the possibility of having them return to the club, but we’ll wait for further communication from the football federation.”
The Nigeria’s home-based Eagles are gearing up for the first leg of the qualifying match against Ghana, scheduled for Sunday, December 22. This encounter will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The return leg of the match is set to occur a few days later, on December 28, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria. This two-legged tie promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams vie for a chance to advance to the championship.