Ghana Set for Tough Test in Group C at 2025 U-20 AFCON
The road to the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations just got steeper for Ghana. In a draw filled with big names and tricky matchups, Ghana’s national youth team, the Black Satellites, found themselves slotted into Group C alongside defending champions Senegal, physical DR Congo, and the unpredictable Central African Republic (CAR). For a team so hungry to reclaim the title after more than two decades, this isn’t the easiest path.
The draw, which took place in Cairo, instantly sparked talk across Ghanaian football circles. Senegal’s youth setup is rolling in momentum, coming off back-to-back AFCON wins in 2021 and 2023. The opening act for Ghana will be against DR Congo on May 2, 2025. Three days later, they’ll lock horns with Senegal at Ismailia Stadium, and they wrap up their group campaign versus the Central African Republic on May 8. With only the top two from each group and the two best third-placed teams progressing to the quarter-finals, every point matters, right from kickoff.
Black Satellites Eye Resurgence Amid High Stakes
Ask Ghana’s head coach Sellas Tetteh how the team feels and he’ll tell you – confidence is high. He’s been vocal about Ghana’s preparations, emphasizing intense training sessions and a refusal to be fazed by reputations. The mood is clear: the squad knows what’s at stake, both for continental glory and a ticket to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Three players to keep an eye on? In goal, there’s Gidios Aseako, whose recent performances have kept fans optimistic. Midfielder Lord Afrifa is quick on the break and doesn’t shy away from dictating tempo, while forward Jerry Afriyie leads the line with a mix of pace and finishing that could really trouble defenses. The nucleus of the team has been getting sharper at a two-week training camp in Accra, overseen by the Ghana Football Association’s Technical Directorate, all in the hope of hammering out the details and ironclad teamwork needed for a successful run.
Senegal, of course, are the ones everyone’s watching. Their last two titles didn’t come by accident – they combine youth talent with tactical discipline and are favorites to top the group again. DR Congo, on the other hand, always bring a physical edge, while the Central African Republic is the wild card, capable of snatching points from anyone.
The tournament, hosted across Ismailia and Suez from May 2 to 25, will see 12 teams break into three groups of four. The format cranks up the suspense: slip up once, and you could be watching the knockouts from the sidelines.
For Ghana, there’s history to chase and hope to revive. Their last AFCON U-20 trophy came back in 2003. They’ve lifted the cup four times before (1993, 1999, 2001, and 2003), but fans are desperate to see the Black Satellites reign again – and, perhaps just as importantly, see them book their place at the World Cup. As the group draw settles in and May draws closer, the pressure’s on and eyes are fixed on whether Ghana can finally escape the long shadow of the past.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Group A features Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria, and Tanzania. Group B throws together Cameroon, Egypt, Mali, and Zambia. Group D’s got Tunisia, South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. Every team knows what’s on the line: a shot at continental glory and a chance to join the world’s best in the big dance next year.
