Nigeria’s Flying Eagles await Côte d’Ivoire challenge after CAF confirms AFCON U20 kickoff

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed Côte d’Ivoire as the host nation for the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the tournament set to begin on April 26, 2025, Soccernet.ng reports.

The announcement was made during CAF’s congress on Monday in Marrakech, Morocco, finally ending months of speculation.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, one of the 12 teams to have qualified for the competition, will now turn their focus to preparations for the continental showdown.

Côte d’Ivoire’s selection as host comes as a surprise, as the Ivorians failed to secure qualification for the tournament.

This unusual scenario may prompt CAF to make slight adjustments to the match schedule.

Initially, Egypt and South Africa had expressed interest in hosting the tournament, but neither nation managed to solidify their bid.

CAF’s delayed announcement had left participating nations and fans in suspense, but confirmation of Côte d’Ivoire as hosts now allows all teams to plan adequately.

The Flying Eagles, led by their success in the WAFU B U20 Championship last October, are one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses at this level.

Nigeria clinched the regional title after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ghana, with slippery forward Kparobo Arierhi scoring twice in the final in Lomé.

Historically, Nigeria have lifted the U20 AFCON title three times, though their last triumph came a decade ago in 2015.

Rivals Ghana remain the most successful team in the competition, having won the trophy four times.

The 12 qualified teams for the 2025 U20 AFCON are Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Congo, DR Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zambia.

For Nigeria, the focus now shifts to ensuring the Flying Eagles are ready to reclaim continental glory in Côte d’Ivoire, where the next generation of African football stars will shine.