African quartet complete U-20 World Cup line-up for Chile 2025
Published: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Africa's final four has been confirmed – and with it, the full cast for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile is now complete.
Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, and South Africa booked their tickets to the global showpiece after reaching the semi-finals of the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Their progress seals the continent's allocated four slots, completing the 24-team line-up for the tournament to be staged from 27 September to 19 October in Chile.
Each of Africa's qualifiers earned their place through grit, drama, and high-stakes football in one of the continent's most competitive youth tournaments in recent memory.
Africa Steps Forward
Hosts Egypt edged Ghana in a tense quarter-final that ended 2-2 after extra time before the Pharaohs triumphed 5-4 on penalties in Suez.
Nigeria, record U-20 AFCON champions, knocked out defending title holders Senegal in another shootout, also by a 5-4 scoreline.
Morocco needed an extra-time own goal to see off tournament debutants Sierra Leone 1-0, while South Africa squeezed past DR Congo by the same margin thanks to Thabang Mahlangu's decisive goal in Cairo.
Their progression ensures that Africa will be strongly represented in Chile with a blend of traditional powerhouses and resurging contenders.
Tournament Format
The tournament will feature six groups of four teams. The top two from each group, plus the four best third-placed teams, will move on to the Round of 16. From there, it's a straight knockout path to the final.
This year marks the 24th edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup – a tournament that has launched the careers of global superstars.
The inclusion of these four African sides, each with their own ambitions and unique styles, adds flavour to what promises to be an unforgettable tournament in Chile.
Final Field Set for Chile 2025
The full list of teams qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup is now known, featuring powerhouses from every continent and highlighting the global reach of youth football development. Africa (CAF): Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa
Europe (UEFA): Italy, France, Ukraine, Spain, Norway
Asia (AFC): Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, Australia
North America (Concacaf): USA, Mexico, Cuba, Panama
South America (CONMEBOL): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Chile (hosts)
Oceania (OFC): New Zealand, New Caledonia
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