Ivory Coast U20 head coach Younes Zerdouk has admitted that Ghana’s pedigree in youth football presents a significant challenge in Group A of the 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The tournament, set to take place from April 26 to May 18, will see Les Petits Éléphants face the Black Satellites in a group that also includes DR Congo, Tanzania, and a second team from the Central African region.
Speaking to CAFOnline, Zerdouk shared his thoughts on the level of competition in the group and acknowledged Ghana’s impressive history in youth football.
It’s a particularly tough group, but at this level of competition, there are never any easy games.
DR Congo and Ghana have teams built for this kind of tournament.
Ghana has a strong tradition in youth football, as we remember their World Cup title in 2009 with the generation of André Ayew,” he said.
A competitive group awaits
Zerdouk also highlighted the progress made by Tanzania, who enter the competition with momentum following their strong performances in the CECAFA U-20 tournament.
Tanzania has made huge progress in recent years and comes into this competition with positive momentum after their CECAFA U-20 tournament,” he noted.
As for the Central African team that will complete the group, they will undoubtedly have strengths to bring to the table.
We know every match will be a battle, and we must be ready to face the challenge.
With a place in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile at stake, the four semi-finalists of the CAF U-20 AFCON will earn automatic qualification for the global tournament.
As Ivory Coast prepares for a demanding group stage, Zerdouk’s side will need to be at their best to navigate past strong opponents and secure a spot in the knockout rounds.
Ghana, as one of Africa’s most successful youth teams, remains a formidable contender, making their clash with Les Petits Éléphants one of the standout fixtures in the group.
