Defending champions Senegal will kick off their quest to retain the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title on Friday evening when they face Central African Republic (CAR) in a Group C opener at the Suez Stadium.
The match is scheduled for 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT).
Senegal, who are appearing in their seventh U-20 AFCON finals, boast an impressive recent record in the tournament, having reached the final in each of the last four editions.
After finishing as runners-up in 2015, 2017, and 2019, the Young Teranga Lions finally lifted the trophy in 2023.
They are now aiming to become the first side since Nigeria (1983–1989) to successfully defend their title.
Unbeaten in their last 11 group stage matches (W9 D2), Senegal enter this fixture as clear favourites.
This encounter marks the first-ever meeting between the two sides at the U-20 AFCON.
However, Senegal are no strangers to facing Central African opposition in the competition, having avoided defeat in all three previous group matches against such nations — drawing with Cameroon in 1993 and 2017, and edging Congo 4-3 in 2015.
Their defensive record has been particularly outstanding, with the team conceding only twice in their last 11 games at the finals and keeping nine clean sheets.
In contrast, CAR are making only their fourth appearance at the tournament.
They qualified for the quarter-finals in 2021 — their best finish — but exited at the group stage in 2023 without a win.
Their sole victory at the finals remains a 2-1 triumph over Tunisia in the final group game of the 2021 edition.
They have struggled to find consistency, failing to win any of their last four AFCON matches and managing just one clean sheet in tournament history.
