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U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

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
Tournament editions

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.

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  Ivory Coast – –

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 		Egypt
1991 		Mauritius
1993 		Nigeria
1995 		Morocco
1997 		Ghana
1999 		Ethiopia
2001 		Burkina Faso
2003 		Benin
2005 		Republic of the Congo
2007 		Rwanda
2009 		South Africa
2011 		Algeria
2013 		Senegal
2015 		Zambia
2017 		Niger
2019 		Mauritania
2021 		Egypt
2023 		Ivory Coast
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 • q 12
 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 Egypt Moustafa Sadek
1993
1995
1997 South Africa Benni McCarthy South Africa Benni McCarthy
1999 Guinea Ousmane Bangoura
2001 Angola Pedro Mantorras
2003 Egypt Emad Moteab
2005 Morocco Mouhcine Iajour
2007 Republic of the Congo Fabrice N'Guessi[11] Zambia Fwayo Tembo
2009 Ghana Ransford Osei Ghana Ransford Osei
2011 Cameroon Edgar Salli Nigeria Uche Nwofor
2013 Egypt Saleh Gomaa Nigeria Aminu Umar
2015 Ghana Yaw Yeboah Nigeria Musa Muhammed
2017 Zambia Patson Daka South Africa Luther Singh
2019 Senegal Moussa N'Diaye Senegal Youssouph Mamadou Badji
2022 Ghana Abdul Fatawu Issahaku Uganda Derrick Kakooza
2023 Senegal Lamine Camara Senegal Pape Diop

FIFA U-20 World Cup performances

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Team Tunisia
1977		 Japan
1979		 Australia
1981		 Mexico
1983		 Soviet Union
1985		 Chile
1987		 Saudi Arabia
1989		 Portugal
1991		 Australia
1993		 Qatar
1995		 Malaysia
1997		 Nigeria
1999		 Argentina
2001		 United Arab Emirates
2003		 Netherlands
2005		 Canada
2007		 Egypt
2009		 Colombia
2011		 Turkey
2013		 New Zealand
2015		 South Korea
2017		 Poland
2019		 Argentina
2023		 Chile
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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