The U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, formerly African Youth Championship, has been a breeding ground for some of the continent’s greatest footballers, many of whom have gone to become ambassadors of the global game.
The endless list include four-time CAF African Player of the Year, Ivorian Yaya Toure, Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations winning quartet, Nader El Sayed, Emad Meteab, Ahmed Fathy and Hosni Abd Rabou (Most Valuable Player at the Ghana 2008 AFCON), iconic Ghanaian stars – Samuel Osei Kuffour, Nii Ordartey Lamptey, Michael Essien, Andre Ayew, Cameroonian legends – Rigobert Song, Geremi Njitap amongst others.
A tournament that remains the dream of every youth footballer, most of the players arrived on the scene as unknown figures, and cut their teeth to global stardom at the stage that pits together the best eight youth teams on the continent.
Countless of the graduates of the previous editions of the biennial championship went on to establish their reputations in major leagues in Africa, Europe and beyond.
The continental championship has always served a qualifier for the FIFA World Cup with the initial two slots doubling to four since 1997.
The maiden edition of the eight team championship was held in 1991 in Egypt and the Young Pharaohs ensured the title stayed home, beating Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 in the final with a team that included the likes of legendary goalkeeper, Nader El Sayed, who grossed 110 caps in a playing career that lasted between 1992 and 2005, and Ahly one-man club defender, Hady Khashaba.
Two years later, Mauritius was the destination for the octet youth teams. Parading the likes of future Black Star players such as Kuffour, Nii Lamptey, Augustine Arhinful, Mohamed Gargo, Charles Akunnor; Ghana edged Cameroon 2-0 in the final. In the Cameroonian team were iconic captain, Song, Marc-Viven Foe, Patrick Suffo and Pius Ndiefi.
‘Les Lionceaux’ will smile two years later in Nigeria, beating surprise packets, Burundi, 4-0 in the final. Some notable faces in the Cameroon squad were Njitap and left-back, Pierre Wome whilst the likes of Felicien Mbanza, Didier Bizimana (now assistant coach of APR of Rwanda) and Juma Masudi (now coach of Rayon Sports of Rwanda) starred for Burundi.
Morocco did a host and win in 1997, a feat replicated by Ghana two years later in Accra thanks to Laryea Kingston’s solitary strike against Nigeria. Baffour Gyan, former Ghana forward and brother of current Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, was in the Ghana team coached by Italian Giuseppe Dossena alongside goalkeeper Sammy Adjei. Nigeria’s Flying Eagles had the likes of former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, Pius Ikedia, Haruna Babangida and Julius Aghahowa. Notable players of that edition include Zambian trio Andrew Sinkala, Ian Bakala and Francis Kasonde.
Angola’s ‘Palanquinhas’ guided by Luis Oliveira Gonçalves shocked the entire continent by beating favourites Ghana 2-0 in Addis Ababa in the final of the 2001 championship. A second half brace from Lolo was all the Angolans needed to claim their first ever continental silverware and players such as António Mendonça and Pedro Mantorras became household names. Essien, Sulley Muntari and Derek Boateng were in the Ghana squad and Ahmed ‘Mido’ Hossam and Gamal Hamza laced their boots for Egypt.
The tournament headed west and Egypt had the last laugh thanks to a 4-3 win over Cote d’Ivoire after extra time in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Ahly legend, Meteab was the ‘golden boy’ scoring the winner in the 94th minute as the likes of Ahmed Fathy and Abd Rabou celebrated the Pharaohs third title in grand style. On the vanquished side were Yaya Toure and Koffi N’dri Romaric whilst host Burkina Faso had the likes of Aristide Bancé and Saïdou Panandétiguiri.
Two years later in Cotonou, Benin, the Pharaohs failed in their bid for a successive title after Nigeria put them to the sword thanks to a goal in each half from Isaac Promise. Under the technical tutelage of Samson Siasia, the continent got to know of players such as Solomon Okoronkwo, Taye Taiwo, Victor Obinna Nsofor (Nigeria), Abdallah Said, Hossam Ashour (Egypt), Razak Omotoyossi, Romuald Boco (Benin), Moroccan Mouhssine Iajour, who finished top scorer with five goals and Bokang Mothoana (Lesotho).
Congo became the fourth host to capture the title on home soil after overcoming highly rated Nigeria 1-0 in the final. ‘Les Diables Rouges’ featured the likes Delvin N’Dinga, Franchel Ibara and Fabrice N’Guessi Ondama. Other notable graduates are Elderson Echiejile, Nduka Ozokwo (Nigeria), Alain Tarore, Bakary Kone, Charles Kabore (Burkina Faso), Sanna Nyassi, Sainey Nyassi, Ousman Jalow (Gambia), Benjamin Mounkando, Alex Song, Leonard Kweuke (Cameroon) and Fwayo Tembo, Clifford Mulenga, William Njobvu (Zambia).
In 2009, Rwanda hosted their first ever continental championship and Ghana won their third title at the expense of Cameroon courtesy a brace from top scorer, Ransford Osei. The Black Satellites will then achieve a ground breaking feat months later by winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, the first and only triumph by an African team. Andre Ayew, Dominic Adiyiah, Samuel Inkoom and Jonathan Mensah were an integral part of the Ghana squad whilst Cameroon had Jacques Zoua, Patrick Ekeng. Others are Jean Michaël Seri, Gohi Bi Zoro Cyriac (Cote d’Ivoire) and Mohamed Talaat (Egypt).
Nigeria won their sixth title in South Africa in 2011 but had to overcome neighbours Cameroon 3-2 thanks to Terrence Envoh’s last gasp strike. Leicester City forward Ahmed Musa was in John Obuh’s title-winning squad. Also appearing were Ahmed El Shenawy, Omar Gaber, Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’, Mohamed El Nenny, Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Edgar Salli, Yaya Banana, Franck Kom (Cameroon), Omar Colley, Saihou Gassama (Gambia), Mahatma Otoo, Richmond Boakye-Yiadom (Ghana), Lehlomela George Ramabele (Botswana) and Cheick Fantamady Diarra (Mali).
The Pharaohs soared to the top for the fourth time in 2013 in Oran, Algeria, after beating Ghana 5-4 on penalties. The Egyptians success was made possible by the likes of Mahmoud Abdelmoneim ‘Kahraba’, Ahmed Hassan ‘Koka’, Saleh Gomaa and Ramy Rabia. In the Ghana squad were Ebenezer Assifuah and Clifford Aboagye whilst the likes of Zinedine Ferhat (Algeria), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (Gabon) and Kayode Olarenwaju, Emmanuel Daniel (Nigeria) gave good account of themselves.
In 2015, Nigeria denied Senegal the opportunity to join the ‘host and win club’ with a 1-0 win in the final in Dakar thanks to a master stroke from Bernard Bulbwa. Notable players from that edition include Taiwo Awoniyi, Musa Mohamed (Nigeria), Sidy Sarr, Pape Abou Cisse (Senegal), Yaw Yeboah, Samuel Tetteh (Ghana), Franck Kessie (Cote d’Ivoire), Adama Traore, Alassane Diallo, Souleymane Diarra (Mali), Patson Daka, Lubambo Musonda (Zambia).
[CAF]
Looks like gambia are doing well when it come to the under20 Afcon but they perform badly at the senior level I hope its not age cheating.my question goes to faz this team that we have assembled are they real under 20 because from what I’m seeing in the pictures these guys are not under20 but there are over age players.players like patson daka and conylade luchanga thes guys are under25 not under20 I don’t trust kamanga remember our under17 was disqualify because of age cheating
Shut up!
Guru shut up
Guru even at school not every one who comes out number one in class in primary school grows to be successful. Iam reference to Gambia am sure there players fail to blossom into world class player’s when they grow up it’s because lack of proper planning and management.It takes seif believe to be successful in life