CAIRO — With spirits high and qualification dreams alive, Egypt’s national team wrapped up preparations for a decisive showdown against Ghana in the quarter-finals of the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Egypt 2025. The high-stakes fixture kicks off at 6:00pm Cairo Local Time on Monday at the New Suez Stadium.
At stake is more than a semi-final berth: the winner will clinch a coveted spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, set to take place in Chile from September 27 to October 19, 2025.
Despite grappling with fatigue and minor injuries — notably to winger Omar Khidr, who missed the final training session — the Young Pharaohs remain united and optimistic. Head coach Osama Nabih and his squad are banking on grit, resilience, and home support to see them through one of their toughest challenges yet.
“This is a golden generation,” Nabih said. “The players, despite their age, showed tremendous heart, especially in the last game when we played the final minutes with a numerical disadvantage.”
Tournament hosts, Egypt emerged from a fiercely contested Group A with seven points, finishing third on goal difference behind South Africa and Sierra Leone.
Despite the narrow margin, the Young Pharaohs secured qualification to the quarter-finals as one of the two best third-placed teams.
Over the course of four matches, Egypt registered two wins, one draw, and one loss, scoring four goals and conceding just two—demonstrating a balanced performance in both attack and defense.
Their most recent result was a 1-0 victory over Tanzania, secured by Ahmed Sharaf’s early strike in the 7th minute at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia.
The quarter-final stage of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations features a strong lineup of teams: hosts Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and DR Congo.
These eight sides are set to battle it out for a place in the semi-finals and a coveted spot at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Egypt’s clash with the Black Satellites is one of two quarter-final blockbusters between former champions. Both sides have won the title four times, with Egypt’s last triumph coming in 2013, coincidentally against Ghana’s Black Stars.
Among the quarter-finalists, Nigeria stands as the most successful side with seven U-20 AFCON titles to their name. Egypt and Ghana follow closely, each having won the tournament four times.
Morocco and Senegal have each lifted the trophy once, adding to the competitive depth of this year’s knockout stage.
In the other heavyweight clash, Nigeria face defending champions Senegal, setting the stage for a thrilling knockout phase.
Should Egypt overcome Ghana, they will face the winner of the Morocco vs. Sierra Leone tie in the semi-finals.
Both semi-final matches are set for Thursday, May 15, with the third-place play-off and final scheduled for Sunday, May 18.
The top four finishers in the tournament will represent Africa at the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile, where 24 nations will compete for global glory.
CAF U-20 AFCON quarter-finals fixtures
Ghana vs Egypt
Morocco vs Sierra Leone
South Africa vs DR Congo
Nigeria vs Senegal
