2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

The 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Arabic: كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 سنة 2023, French: Coupe d'Afrique des nations de football des moins de 20 ans 2023), known as the 2023 U20 AFCON or 2023 AFCON U20 for short and as the 2023 TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship purposes, was the 17th edition (24th if editions of the tournament without hosts are included) of the biennial African international youth football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football. Egypt hosted the tournament, which took place from 19 February to 11 March 2023. The tournament involved 12 teams, Senegal won the tournament for the first time, defeating Gambia in the final and did not concede a single goal the entire tournament.[5]

2023 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 سنة 2023
Tournament details
Host countryEgypt
Dates19 February – 11 March
Teams12 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)3 (in 3 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Senegal (1st title)
Runners-up Gambia
Third place Nigeria
Fourth place Tunisia
Tournament statistics
Matches played26
Goals scored54 (2.08 per match)
Top scorer(s)Senegal Pape Diop (5 goals)[1]
Best player(s)Senegal Lamine Camara[2]
Best goalkeeperSenegal Landing Badji[3]
Fair play award Nigeria[4]
2021
2025

This edition of the tournament also doubles as the African qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina where teams who reached the semi-finals stage qualified automatically and also for the 2023 African Games in Accra, Ghana where teams who reached the quarter-finals stage qualified automatically too.

Ghana were the defending champions following their 4th title win in 2021, but failed to qualify for this edition after losing to Nigeria in the WAFU sub-regional qualification tournament.[6][7]

Qualification

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Player eligibility

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Players born 1 January 2003 or later are eligible to participate in the competition.

Qualified teams

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The following 12 teams qualified for the group stages:

Team Zone Date of qualification Appearance Last appearance Previous best performance
  Egypt (hosts) North Zone 16 May 2021 12th 2017 Champions (1991, 2003, 2013)
  Tunisia 24 October 2022 2nd 2021 Fourth place (2021)
  Benin West B Zone 17 May 2022 3rd 2013 Third place (2005)
  Nigeria 17 May 2022 12th 2019 Champions (2005, 2011, 2015)
  Senegal West A Zone 9 September 2022 6th 2019 Runners-up (2015, 2017, 2019)
  Gambia 9 September 2022 4th 2021 Third place (2007, 2021)
  Central African Republic  Central Zone 14 December 2022 2nd 2021 Quarter-finals (2021)
  Congo  14 December 2022 3rd 2015 Champions (2007)
  Uganda  Central-East Zone 8 November 2022 2nd 2021 Runners-up (2021)
  South Sudan  8 November 2022 1st None Debut
  Mozambique  South Zone 14 October 2022 2nd 2021 Group stage (2021)
  Zambia  14 October 2022 8th 2017 Champions (2017)

Venues

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Cairo Ismailia
Cairo International Stadium Suez Canal Stadium
Capacity: 75,000 Capacity: 22,000
   
Alexandria
Haras El Hodoud Stadium[8] Alexandria Stadium
Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 20,000
   

Match officials

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On 18 February 2023, CAF announced a total of 16 referees (including 2 women), 18 assistant referees (including 4 women) and 6 video assistant referees (VAR) appointed for the tournament.[9][10]

Referees

  •   Issa Mouhamed
  •   Hamidou Diero
  •   Mohamed Athoumani
  •   Yannick Kabanga Malala
  •   Clement Franklin Kpan
  •   Mohamed Diraneh Guedi
  •   Mahmoud Ahmed Nagy
  •   Lamin Jammeh
  •   Ahmed Abdulrazg
  •   Sory Ibrahima Keita
  •   Jallal Jayed
  •   Bouchra Karboubi
  •   Omar Abdulkadir Artan
  •   Jean-Claude Ishimwe
  •   El Hadj Amadou Sy
  •   Akhona Makalima

Assistant referees

  •   Hamza Bouzit
  •   Pascal Ndimunzigo
  •   Styven Moutsassi
  •   Yara Atef
  •   Mohamed Abouzid Sami Halhal
  •   Yehualashet Fasika Biru
  •   Roland Nii Dodoo
  •   Joel Wonka Doe
  •   Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo
  •   Fanta Idrissa Kone
  •   Fatiha Jermoumi
  •   Soukaina Hamdi
  •   Abdoul Aziz Moctar Saley
  •   Igho Hope
  •   Shaji Padayachy
  •   Omer Hamid Mohamed Ahmed
  •   Jonathan Ahonto Koffi
  •   Mohamed Bakir

Video assistant referees

Squads

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Draw

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The draw for the group stage was held at CAF's headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on 23 December 2022 at 19:00 EST (UTC+2).[11] The 12 teams were drawn into 3 groups of 4 with the teams seeded according to their performance in the previous edition of the tournament. Hosts Egypt automatically seeded and assigned to Position A1 in the draw.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3
  1.   Egypt (hosts)
  2.   Uganda (2)
  3.   Gambia (3)
  1.   Nigeria (NR)
  2.   Zambia (NR)
  3.   Senegal (NR)
  4.   Benin (NR)
  5.   Congo (NR)
  6.   South Sudan (NR)

Group stage

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The top two teams of each group advance to the quarter-finals along with the two best 3rd-placed teams.

Tiebreakers

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Teams are ranked according to points (3 for a win, 1 for a draw and none for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tie-breaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13).[12]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

All times are in EST (UTC+2).

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Senegal 3 3 0 0 8 0 +8 9 Knockout stage
2   Nigeria 3 2 0 1 3 1 +2 6
3   Egypt (H) 3 0 1 2 0 5 −5 1[a]
4   Mozambique 3 0 1 2 0 5 −5 1[a]
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Drawing of lots: Egypt 1; Mozambique 2
Egypt  0–0  Mozambique
Report
Senegal  1–0  Nigeria
  • S. Faye   40'
Report
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Jalal Jayed (Morocco)

Mozambique  0–3  Senegal
Report
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Ahmed Abdulrazg (Libya)
Nigeria  1–0  Egypt
Report
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Jean-Claude Ishimwe (Rwanda)

Egypt  0–4  Senegal
Report
  • P. Diop   59', 73', 76'
  • I. Sané   69'
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Mohamed Athoumani (Comoros)
Mozambique  0–2  Nigeria
Report
  • Lawal   33'
  • Muhammad   41'
Referee: Yannick Kabanga Malala (DR Congo)

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Uganda 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5[a] Knockout stage
2   Congo 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5[a]
3   South Sudan 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
4   Central African Republic 3 0 1 2 1 3 −2 1
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Drawing of lots: Uganda 1; Congo 2[13]
Uganda  2–1  Central African Republic
Report
  • Gbenou   90+5'
South Sudan  1–2  Congo
  • America   83'
Report
Suez Canal Stadium, Ismailia
Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

Central African Republic  0–1  South Sudan
Report
  • America   2' (pen.)
Suez Canal Stadium, Ismailia
Referee: Clement Franklin Kpan (Ivory Coast)
Congo  2–2  Uganda
  • Loulendo   6'
  • Mombouli   72'
Report
Suez Canal Stadium, Ismailia
Referee: Lamin Jammeh (Gambia)

Uganda  0–0  South Sudan
Report
Suez Canal Stadium, Ismailia
Referee: Issa Mouhamed (Benin)
Central African Republic  0–0  Congo
Report
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Hamidou Diero (Burkina Faso)

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Gambia 3 3 0 0 4 0 +4 9 Knockout stage
2   Tunisia 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
3   Benin 3 0 2 1 1 2 −1 2
4   Zambia 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3 1
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Gambia  1–0  Tunisia
  • Saine   84'
Report
Referee: Mohamed Athoumani (Comoros)
Benin  1–1  Zambia
  • Aloko   57'
Report
  • Ng'ambi   60'
Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria
Referee: Mohamed Diraneh Guedi (Djibouti)

Tunisia  0–0  Benin
Report
Referee: El Hadj Amadou Sy (Senegal)
Zambia  0–2  Gambia
Report
  • Drammeh   63'
  • Saine   81' (pen.)
Referee: Mahmoud Ahmed Nagy (Egypt)

Gambia  1–0  Benin
  • Ouorou   88' (o.g.)
Report
Referee: Sory Ibrahima Keita (Mali)
Tunisia  2–1  Zambia
Report
  • Mutandwa   58'
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Omar Artan (Somalia)

Ranking of third-placed teams

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Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B   South Sudan 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4 Knockout stage
2 C   Benin 3 0 2 1 1 2 −1 2
3 A   Egypt 3 0 1 2 0 5 −5 1
Source: CAF

Knockout stage

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
2 March – Cairo
 
 
  Senegal1
 
6 March – Suez
 
  Benin0
 
  Senegal3
 
3 March – Cairo
 
  Tunisia0
 
  Congo3 (4)
 
11 March – Cairo
 
  Tunisia (p)3 (5)
 
  Senegal2
 
3 March – Alexandria
 
  Gambia0
 
  Gambia5
 
6 March – Cairo
 
  South Sudan0
 
  Gambia1
 
2 March – Suez
 
  Nigeria0 Third place
 
  Uganda0
 
10 March – Cairo
 
  Nigeria1
 
  Tunisia0
 
 
  Nigeria4
 

Quarter-finals

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Winners qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Senegal  1–0  Benin
Report
Referee: Jean-Claude Ishimwe (Rwanda)

Uganda  0–1  Nigeria
Report
Referee: Mahmoud Ahmed Nagy (Egypt)

Gambia  5–0  South Sudan
  • Bojang   7', 33', 47'
  • Jarju   28'
  • Bajo   70'
Report

Congo  3–3 (a.e.t.)  Tunisia
Report
  • Othman   37'
  • Chouchane   76'
  • Saoudi   119'
Penalties
  • Moutou  
  • Bowamba  
  • Manouana  
  • Ngandziami  
  • Maniongui  
  • Loulendo  
  • Diambomba  
4–5
  •   Ghorbel
  •   Dhaoui
  •   Hmidi
  •   Chouchane
  •   Garreb
  •   Snana
  •   Abid
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Clement Franklin Kpan (Ivory Coast)

Semi-finals

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Senegal  3–0  Tunisia
Report
Referee: Omar Artan (Somalia)

Gambia  1–0  Nigeria
  • Bojang   7'
Report
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Ahmed Abdulrazg (Libya)

Third place

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Tunisia  0–4  Nigeria
Report
  • Muhammad   9'
  • Abdullahi   46'
  • Sunday   48', 90'
Referee: Mohamed Athoumani (Comoros)

Final

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Senegal  2–0  Gambia
Report
Referee: Mahmoud Ahmed Nagy (Egypt)

Goalscorers

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There were 54 goals scored in 26 matches, for an average of 2.08 goals per match.

5 goals

4 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

  •   Tamimou Ouorou (against the Gambia)
  •   Ibrahim Juma (against Nigeria)

Awards

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The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:

Player of the Tournament
  Lamine Camara[14]
Top Scorer
  Pape Diop[15]

(5 goals)

Best Goalkeeper
  Landing Badji[16]
Best Coach
  Malick Daf (  Senegal)
CAF Fair Play Team
  Nigeria[17]

Team of the Tournament

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Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
  Landing Badji

Qualified teams for the FIFA U-20 World Cup

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The following teams from CAF qualified for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.[18]

Team Qualified on Previous appearances in FIFA U-20 World Cup1
  Senegal 2 March 2023 3 (2015, 2017, 2019)
  Nigeria 2 March 2023 12 (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019)
  Gambia 3 March 2023 1 (2007)
  Tunisia 3 March 2023 2 (1977, 1985)
1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Qualified teams for the 2023 African Games

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The following teams qualified for the 2023 African Games men's football tournament in Accra, Ghana.

Team Qualified on Previous appearances in African Games1
  Ghana Host nation 7 (1973, 1978, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019)
  Nigeria 25 February 2023 7 (1973, 1978, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2015, 2019)
  Senegal 5 (1987, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019)
  Congo 26 February 2023 4 (1965, 1973, 1995, 2015)
  South Sudan 0 (debut)
  Uganda 4 (1965, 1991, 1999, 2011)
  Benin 27 February 2023 0 (debut)
  Gambia 0 (debut)
  Tunisia 3 (1987, 1991, 2007)
1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Senegal U20 star Pape Diop scoops Umbro Golden Boot award". cafonline.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Camara named TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON best player". cafonline.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Senegal custodian Badji named TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON Best Goalkeeper". cafonline.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Nigeria win TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON Fair Play award". cafonline.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Central Africa Republic and Congo Brazzaville complete TotalEnergies U20 AFCON Egypt 2023 list". CAFOnline.com. 16 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.
  6. ^ "Nigeria trounce Ghana 2-0 in U20 AFCON qualifying tournament". Vanguard News Nigeria. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Nigeria beat Ghana 2-0 in U20 AFCON qualifying tournament". Premium Times Nigeria. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  8. ^ "TotalEnergies AFCON U20 Organising Committee confirms Alexandria venue switch to Haras El Hodoud Stadium". CAFOnline.com. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  9. ^ "List of match officials for TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2023 announced". CAFOnline.com. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  10. ^ "LIST OF SELECTED REFEREES TO TOTALENERGIES U20 EGYPT 2022" (PDF). CAFOnline.com. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Watch LIVE: AFCON U20 draw here". CAFOnline.com. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  12. ^ "U-20 AFCON Regulations" (PDF). CAFOnline.com. 20 October 2020. p. 27-29. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Uganda beats Congo to first place in Group B following drawing of lots". CAFOnline.com. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Camara named TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON best player | Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. 11 March 2023. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Senegal U20 star Pape Diop scoops Umbro Golden Boot award | Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Confedération Africaine du Football (CAF). 12 March 2023. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Senegal custodian Badji named TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON Best Goalkeeper | Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Confedération Africaine du Football (CAF). 12 March 2023. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Nigeria win TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON Fair Play award | Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Confedération Africaine du Football (CAF). 12 March 2023. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Tunisia, The Gambia join Nigeria and Senegal in qualifying for Indonesia 2023". FIFA. Retrieved 12 March 2023.