The U-20 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off about two weeks ago, with three groups of 12 teams jostling for the title and the last four spots so as to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia in May.
However, the group stage is done and dusted after over a week of thrills and shocks. Eight teams made it through to the next round of the tournament, with the Teranga Lions of Senegal and The Gambia ending the group stage with a 100 percent win record without conceding a goal.
Following the completion of the group stages and with the quarterfinals set to begin on Thursday, Afrosport takes a look at the best performing teams and the disappointing teams among the 12 participants at the tournament.
Winners
Senegal
Group A was considered the “Group of Death” as it had three teams with vast experience in the history of the U-20 AFCON. The Young Teranga Lions of Senegal are three-time runners-up, while hosts Egypt (four) and Nigeria (seven) have a combined 11 titles between them.
Many experts were of the opinion that the latter two would get through the group, but it was the Senegalese that finished on top with a 100% record, scoring eight goals and conceding none. All these made the West Africans the most impressive team in the competition so far, as they had four players in the starting XI for the group stage, and they are certainly a strong contender for the title.
Gambia
The Young Scorpions came to Egypt as bronze medalists from the last U-20 AFCON edition in Mauritania but little was it known they would take things up a notch in 2023.
The West Africans like their neighbours Senegal, also recorded a 100% record in the Group C, finishing ahead of Tunisia, Benin and Zambia.
With such blistering form, the tiny nation will look to go one better than the semi-final this time and it starts with a quarter-final against South Sudan.
3️⃣ GAMES. 0️⃣ GOALS CONCEDED.
Senegal and The Gambia managed to keep clean sheets in every game so far 🛡️ #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 | @FsfOfficielle | @TheGambiaFF pic.twitter.com/CtZN3uZGRW
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) February 28, 2023
South Sudan
The Bright Stars were making their first-ever appearance as a nation in any CAF competition, almost 12 years when they gained independence as the world’s young country which still stands till date.
There was an unknown into how they would perform in the tournament, making them somewhat minnows. The South Sudanese however defied the odds by finishing third in Group C with four points which made them the highest-ranked side among the third-place finishers and sealed qualification to the last eight as a result.
That’s clearly a fairytale run for the debutants and they would fancy their chances of getting another massive result when they face the Gambia.
THE KNOCKOUT STAGES ARE HERE! 🤩
🇸🇳 🆚 🇧🇯 ➡️ ❓
🇨🇬 🆚 🇹🇳 ➡️ ❓
🇺🇬 🆚 🇳🇬 ➡️ ❓
🇬🇲 🆚 🇸🇸 ➡️ ❓𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙮 | #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 | @1xBet_Eng pic.twitter.com/780f1XCBSb
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) February 28, 2023
Losers
Egypt
The Young Pharaohs were expected to use home advantage to lift a fifth title with possible ease. It was however far from such reality as the North African giants failed to win any game in Group A, where they also failed to score a single goal and conceded five.
The Egyptians finished third in the group with the same form as minnows Mozambique (W0 D1 L2 GF2 GA5) and that shows how poor they were. Questions will need to be asked where it all went wrong for a team that was supposed to dominate.
Zambia
The Junior Chipolopolo were seen as one of the top guns when they were paired in Group C with the Gambia, Tunisia and Benin.
Their 2017 U-20 AFCON triumph on home soil also raised their profile as a side beeming with top talents.
Those expectations were however torn apart as the Zambians finished bottom of Group C with just a solitary point, scoring two goals and conceding five. Like the Egyptians, the Junior Chipolopolo need to do some soul searching so as to prevent such poor showing in future.
