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U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

The U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, known for short as the U-20 AFCON and for sponsorship purposes as TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, previously known as the African Youth Championship and the African U-20 Championship, is the biennial international youth football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for its nations consisting of players under the age of 20. It serves as the African qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Organising bodyCAF
Founded
  • 1979 (qualification)
  • 1991 (tournament)
RegionAfrica
Number of teams12
Current champions Senegal (1st title)
Most successful team(s) Nigeria (7 titles)
2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

History

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In 1979, FIFA created a world championship for upcoming footballers, causing CAF to install a home-and-away qualification tournament for African nations called the African Youth Championship which also crowned the tournament's champions. In 1991, CAF upgraded the tournament into a full-scale tournament contested by 8 in a chosen host nation.

CAF changed the name of this competition to the African U-20 Championship for the 2011 edition so as to distinguish it from the U-17 competition. On 6 August 2015, the CAF Executive Committee decided to change the tournament's name to the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in line with the flagship Africa Cup of Nations tournament.[1] However, the name on the official competition logo after 2015 reads as the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

On 21 July 2016, French energy and petroleum giant TotalEnergies (formerly Total S.A.) secured an 8-year sponsorship package from CAF to support its competitions.[2][3]

Since the 2021 edition, the tournament has been contested by 12 teams.[4]

Tournament summary

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African Youth Championship (Qualification)

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Edition Year Host nation Final Third Place
Champion Score Second Place
2 1979   Home sites  
Algeria 		2–1  
Guinea 		 
Ethiopia 		 
Nigeria
2–3
3 1981   Home sites  
Egypt 		2–0  
Cameroon 		 
Algeria 		 
Nigeria
1–1
4 1983   Home sites  
Nigeria 		2–2  
Ivory Coast 		 
Algeria 		 
Guinea
2–1
5 1985   Home sites  
Nigeria 		1–1  
Tunisia 		 
Ivory Coast 		 
Ethiopia
2–1
6 1987   Home sites  
Nigeria 		2–1  
Togo 		 
Morocco 		 
Somalia
3–0
7 1989   Home sites  
Nigeria 		2–0  
Mali 		 
Algeria 		 
Ivory Coast
2–1

African Youth Championship (Host)

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Edition Year Host nation Final Third Place Match
Champion Score Second Place Third Place Score Fourth Place
8 1991   Egypt  
Egypt 		2–1  
Ivory Coast 		 
Ghana 		2–0  
Zambia
9 1993   Mauritius  
Ghana 		2–0  
Cameroon 		 
Egypt 		3–0  
Ethiopia
10 1995   Nigeria  
Cameroon 		4–0  
Burundi 		 
Nigeria 		1–0  
Mali
11 1997   Morocco  
Morocco 		1–0  
South Africa 		 
Ivory Coast 		2–0  
Ghana
12 1999   Ghana  
Ghana 		1–0  
Nigeria 		 
Cameroon 		2–1  
Zambia
13 2001   Ethiopia  
Angola 		2–0  
Ghana 		 
Egypt 		2–0  
Ethiopia
14 2003   Burkina Faso  
Egypt 		4–3 (a.e.t.)  
Ivory Coast 		 
Mali 		1–1 (5–4 p)  
Burkina Faso
15 2005   Benin  
Nigeria 		2–0  
Egypt 		 
Benin 		1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p) 		 
Morocco
16 2007   Republic of the Congo  
Congo 		1–0  
Nigeria 		 
Gambia 		3–1  
Zambia
17 2009   Rwanda  
Ghana 		2–0  
Cameroon 		 
Nigeria 		2–1  
South Africa

African U-20 Championship

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Edition Year Host nation Final Third Place Match
Champion Score Second Place Third Place Score Fourth Place
18 2011[5]   South Africa  
Nigeria 		3–2 (a.e.t.)  
Cameroon 		 
Egypt 		1–0  
Mali
19 2013   Algeria  
Egypt 		1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p) 		 
Ghana 		 
Nigeria 		2–1  
Mali
20 2015   Senegal[6]  
Nigeria 		1–0  
Senegal 		 
Ghana 		3–1  
Mali

U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

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Edition Year Host nation Final Third Place Match
Champion Score Second Place Third Place Score Fourth Place
21 2017   Zambia  
Zambia 		2–0  
Senegal 		 
Guinea 		2–1  
South Africa
22 2019   Niger[7]  
Mali 		1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p) 		 
Senegal 		 
South Africa 		0–0
(5–3 p) 		 
Nigeria
23 2021   Mauritania[8][9]  
Ghana 		2–0  
Uganda 		 
Gambia 		0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p) 		 
Tunisia
24 2023   Egypt[10]  
Senegal 		2–0  
Gambia 		 
Nigeria 		4–0  
Tunisia
25 2025 – –

Performance by nation

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Rank Team Champions Runners-up Third-place Fourth-place Semi-finalists
1   Nigeria 7 (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, 2015) 2 (1999, 2007) 4 (1995*, 2009, 2013, 2023) 1 (2019) 2 (1979, 1981)
2   Ghana 4 (1993, 1999*, 2009, 2021) 2 (2001, 2013) 2 (1991, 2015) 1 (1997) –
3   Egypt 4 (1981, 1991*, 2003, 2013) 1 (2005) 3 (1993, 2001, 2011) – –
4   Cameroon 1 (1995) 4 (1981, 1993, 2009, 2011) 1 (1999) – –
5   Senegal 1 (2023) 3 (2015*, 2017, 2019) – – –
6   Mali 1 (2019) 1 (1989) 1 (2003) 4 (1995, 2011, 2013, 2015) –
7   Zambia 1 (2017*) – – 3 (1991, 1999, 2007) –
8   Algeria 1 (1979) – – – 3 (1981, 1983, 1989)
9   Morocco 1 (1997*) – – 1 (2005) 1 (1987)
10   Angola 1 (2001) – – – –
  Congo 1 (2007*) – – – –
12   Ivory Coast – 3 (1983, 1991, 2003) 1 (1997) – 2 (1985, 1989)
13   Gambia – 1 (2023) 2 (2007, 2021) – –
14   South Africa – 1 (1997) 1 (2019) 2 (2009, 2017) –
15   Guinea – 1 (1979) 1 (2017) – 1 (1983)
16   Tunisia – 1 (1985) – 2 (2021, 2023) –
17   Togo – 1 (1987) – – –
  Burundi – 1 (1995) – – –
  Uganda – 1 (2021) – – –
20   Benin – – 1 (2005*) – –
21   Ethiopia – – – 2 (1993, 2001*) 2 (1979, 1985)
22   Somalia – – – – 1 (1987)
23   Burkina Faso – – – 1 (2003*) –

* = As hosts

Participating nations

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Team  
1979 		 
1981 		 
1983 		 
1985 		 
1987 		 
1989 		 
1991 		 
1993 		 
1995 		 
1997 		 
1999 		 
2001 		 
2003 		 
2005 		 
2007 		 
2009 		 
2011 		 
2013 		 
2015 		 
2017 		 
2019 		 
2021 		 
2023 		 
2025 		Years
  Algeria 1st SF SF 1R × SF • • • • • • • • • • GS × • • • • 6
  Angola × × 1R 1R × PR × × • • GS 1st • GS • • • • • • • • • • 6
  Benin × × × × × × • × × • × × × 3rd × • • GS • × • • QF • 3
  Burkina Faso × × × × × × × × • • × • 4th • GS • • • • • GS QF • • 4
  Burundi × × × × × × × × 2nd • × • × • • • × • • GS • • • 2
  Cameroon 2R 2nd QF QF 1R 1R GS 2nd 1st • 3rd GS • • GS 2nd 2nd • • GS • QF • • 16
  Central African Republic × 2R × × × × × × × × × × × × × × • × × × • QF GS • 3
  Congo × × × × × × × × × • × × × 1st • • • GS • • • QF q 4
  DR Congo × × × × × 1R × × × × × × × × × • • GS • • • • • q 3
  Egypt 1R 1st QF 1R QF QF 1st 3rd • GS • 3rd 1st 2nd GS GS 3rd 1st • GS • × GS 18
  Equatorial Guinea × 2R × × × × × × × × • • × • × • × × × • • × • 1
  Eswatini × × 1R × × × × × × × • • • × × × × × • • • • • • 1
  Ethiopia SF 1R × SF 1R × GS 4th • • • 4th • × • × × × • • • • • • 7
  Gabon × PR 1R × × QF × × × • • GS × • • • GS • • • × × • 5
  Gambia × × 1R PR × × • × × × × • × • 3rd • GS × • • 3rd 2nd • 6
  Ghana × × × 1R QF 3rd 1st • 4th 1st 2nd GS • • 1st GS 2nd 3rd • GS 1st • q 15
  Guinea 2nd 1R SF QF 1R 1R × GS • GS × • • • • • • • 3rd • • • • 9
  Ivory Coast × × 2nd SF QF SF 2nd × • 3rd • × 2nd GS GS GS • • GS • • • • • 11
  Kenya 1R × × × × × × • × • × • × × • • • • • • • × q 2
  Lesotho × × × × × QF • × • × • • × GS • • GS × × • • • • • 3
  Liberia × × × × PR × × × × • × × × × • × • • • • × • • 1
  Libya 1R × × × × × × × × × • • • • • • × • • • • • • 1
  Malawi × × × × × × × × • × GS • × × • • • × • × • • • • 1
  Mali × × × × × 2nd • • 4th GS GS GS 3rd GS • GS 4th 4th 4th GS 1st • • • 13
  Mauritania × 1R × × 1R × • • × • × × × × • • × • • • • GS • × 3
  Mauritius 2R × × × × × × GS GS • × • × × • • • • × • • × • × 3
  Morocco 2R 1R QF QF SF 1R • GS • 1st • • 4th GS • • • • • • • QF • 11
  Mozambique × × × PR QF × × × × × • • • • • • • • • • • GS GS • 4
  Namibia × × × × × × × × × × × • • • • • • • • • • GS • • 1
  Niger × × × × × × • × • × × × × • • × • • • GS • • • 1
  Nigeria SF SF 1st 1st 1st 1st × GS 3rd • 2nd GS • 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 3rd 1st • 4th • 3rd q 19
  Rwanda × × × × × × × × × × • × × • • GS • • • • • × × • 1
  Senegal × × PR × × PR • GS GS • • • • • • • • • 2nd 2nd 2nd • 1st q 9
  Sierra Leone × × × × × × • × × × • × × • • • • • • • • • • q 1
  Somalia × × × × SF × × × × × × • • • × × × × • • • • × × 1
  South Africa × × × × × × × × • 2nd • GS GS • • 4th GS • GS 4th 3rd • • q 9
  South Sudan Country didn't exist: part of Sudan × × × • • QF • 1
  Sudan × × 1R 1R × × × × • GS • • • • • • • • • GS • • • • 4
  Tanzania × × × × × × × × × • • • • × × × • • • × • GS • q 2
  Togo × 1R 1R × 2nd × × • • × • × • × • × • × • × • • • • 3
  Tunisia 2R 2R 1R 2nd QF 1R • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4th 4th 8
  Uganda × × × PR PR × • • × × • • • × × • • • × • 2nd QF • 4
  Zambia × × × 1R 1R × 4th × GS GS 4th • • • 4th • • • GS 1st • • GS q 11
  Zimbabwe × 2R QF QF × • • × • × × • • • • × × × • • • × • 3
Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place
  • 4th – Fourth place
  • SF – Semi-finals
  • QF – Quarter-finals
  • GS – Group stage
  • PR – Preliminary round
  • 1R – First round
  • 2R – Second round
  • q – Qualified
  •     — Hosts
  •  ×  – Did not enter
  •  •  – Did not qualify
  •  ×  – Withdrew before qualification
  •     — Withdrew after qualification
  •     — Disqualified after qualification

Participating nations by year of debut

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Participating nations by debut (Until 1989, counted Round 1, after 1991 counting Final 16)

Before 1989

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After 1991

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Player awards

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Year Player of the tournament Top goalscorer
1991   Moustafa Sadek
1993
1995
1997   Benni McCarthy   Benni McCarthy
1999   Ousmane Bangoura
2001   Pedro Mantorras
2003   Emad Moteab
2005   Mouhcine Iajour
2007   Fabrice N'Guessi[11]   Fwayo Tembo
2009   Ransford Osei   Ransford Osei
2011   Edgar Salli   Uche Nwofor
2013   Saleh Gomaa   Aminu Umar
2015   Yaw Yeboah   Musa Muhammed
2017   Patson Daka   Luther Singh
2019   Moussa N'Diaye   Youssouph Mamadou Badji
2022   Abdul Fatawu Issahaku   Derrick Kakooza
2023   Lamine Camara   Pape Diop

FIFA U-20 World Cup performances

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Team  
1977		  
1979		  
1981		  
1983		  
1985		  
1987		  
1989		  
1991		  
1993		  
1995		  
1997		  
1999		  
2001		  
2003		  
2005		  
2007		  
2009		  
2011		  
2013		  
2015		  
2017		  
2019		  
2023		  
2025		 Total
  Algeria QF 1
  Angola R2 1
  Benin R1 1
  Burkina Faso R2 1
  Burundi R1 1
  Cameroon R1 R1 QF R2 R1 R2 6
  Congo R2 1
  Egypt QF R1 3rd R2 R1 R2 R2 R1 8
  Ethiopia R1 1
  Gambia R2 R2 2
  Ghana 2nd 4th QF 2nd 1st 3rd R2 7
  Guinea R1 R1 2
  Ivory Coast R1 R1 R1 R1 R2 5
  Mali R1 3rd R1 R1 R1 3rd QF 7
  Morocco R1 R2 4th 3
  Nigeria R1 3rd R1 2nd QF 2nd QF R2 QF R2 R2 R2 QF 13
  Senegal 4th R2 QF R1 4
  South Africa R1 R2 R1 R1 4
  Togo R1 1
  Tunisia R1 R1 R2 3
  Zambia R1 R2 QF 3
Legend

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Committee on 6 August 2015". CAFOnline.com. 9 August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Total, Title Sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations and Partner of African Football". CAFOnline.com. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Total to sponsor CAF competitions for the next eight years". africanews. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  4. ^ "CAF Holds Executive Committee Meeting ahead of CAN Total U-23 Final". CAFOnline.com. 21 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019. New formats for youth and women's competitions based on 12 teams were approved.
  5. ^ "Nigeria win superb Africa Youth Championship final". BBC Sport. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2012. Nigeria will play Cameroon in the final of the (2011) African Youth Championship in South Africa on Sunday.
  6. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Committee on hosting of Junior and Senior CAF Competitions". CAF. 27 September 2011. Archived from the original on January 1, 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  7. ^ "CAF Executive Committee decisions of 26 May 2015". CAFOnline.com. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2020. Furthermore, the CAF Executive Committee ruled favourably on the request of the request of Niger for the CAF U-20 Championship the same year.
  8. ^ "CAN 2019 : un dernier sursis pour le Cameroun ?" [CAN 2019: a last reprieve for Cameroon?]. CamFoot (in French). 29 September 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020. Designation of host countries for future competitions c. CAN Total U20 2021 : Mauritanie
  9. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Committee - 27 & 28 September 2018". CAFOnline.com. 29 September 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2020. Designation of host countries for upcoming competitions: Total U-20 AFCON 2021 : Mauritania
  10. ^ "Central Africa Republic and Congo Brazzaville complete TotalEnergies U20 AFCON Egypt 2023 list". CAFOnline.com. 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023. The TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2023 will be played between 19 February and 11 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Ambitious Ondama targets Congolese triumph". FIFA. 30 April 2007. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
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