Rising Stars land Senegal, Zambia in AFCON U20 draw

Rising Stars will make their debut against reigning champions Senegal, Zambia and Sierra Leone in the championship scheduled to run from April 26 to May 18, in Cote d'Ivoire.

Kenya will represent the CECAFA region alongside Tanzania after the two teams reached the qualifiers final held in Dar es Salaam last October, with the hosts winning 2-1 but both sides qualified for the tournament.

Tanzania are in Group ‘A’ alongside hosts Cote d'Ivoire, DR. Congo, Ghana and one more team from the UNIFFAC region, pending confirmation.

The identity of the second team from the UNIFFAC Zonal Union is still to be determined following Congo’s FIFA suspension.

Group ‘B’ has three time champions Nigeria and Egypt, South Africa and 1997 winners Morocco.

The top two teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals along with the two best third-placed sides, before the competition continues in a knockout format.

Four best teams will book tickets for the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup that will be held in Chile from 27 September-19 October, 2025.

Draw

Group A: Cote d’Ivoire, UNIFAC2*, DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania

Group B: Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco

Group C: Senegal, Zambia, Kenya, Sierre Leone