Ghana U-20 head coach Desmond Ofei is looking forward to an exciting 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the Black Satellites prepare for a competitive tournament.
The four-time African champions have been drawn in Group A alongside host nation Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, Ghana is still awaiting confirmation of the second team from the UNIFFAC Zonal Union, following Congo’s FIFA suspension.
Ofei is optimistic about the challenge ahead, acknowledging the high level of competition in this year’s tournament.
“This can be the most exciting tournament in the history of the U-20 AFCON,” Ofei told Joy Sports.
“Many teams are now investing heavily in international players. If you look at Congo, for example, there are Belgian players in their squad, so it’s not going to be easy.”
He also highlighted the tough competition awaiting Ghana, should they progress beyond the group stage.
“There are no easy teams, with the big guns like Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Gambia, and South Africa all representing.
“Qualifying from the group stages will mean we’ll likely face one of these giants. We have to set the standards and we need to be ready to compete for the win and qualification.”
The 2025 U-20 AFCON is set to kick off on April 26, with the final scheduled for May 18. The four semi-finalists will secure their spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later in the year.
