Ghana’s U-20 coach, Desmond Ofei, has hailed the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations (AFCON) as potentially the most thrilling edition in the tournament’s history.
Speaking after the draw on Thursday, February 13, Ofei emphasized the rising quality of youth football across the continent, with nations investing heavily in talent development.
The Black Satellites were placed in Group A alongside hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a yet-to-be-determined team from the UNIFFAC Zonal Union.
Ofei acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting the presence of internationally based players in teams like Congo.
“This can be the most exciting tournament in the history of the U20 AFCON. I feel like nowadays, a lot of teams are investing heavily in international players,” he told Ghanaian outlet Joy Sports.
“If you’re looking at Congo, I know a lot of Belgian players are part of the squad, so it’s not going to be easy.
“There’s no easy nation, as you know we have big guns out there—Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Gambia, South Africa—so even if we do well and qualify from the group stages, we are still going to meet one of the giant nations in Africa.”
Group B features Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco, while Group C includes defending champions Senegal, Zambia, Kenya, and Sierra Leone.
The tournament, set to run from April 26 to May 18, will see 13 teams compete for glory and a chance to qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
