Two players of fast rising Inspire Sports Academy, Kpangu Anthony Ezekiel and Jimoh Babatunde Farouq were part of the National U-20 team that traveled Tuesday for a friendly game with Cote d’Ivoire U-20 team.
The coach Aliyu Zubairu tutored Flying Eagles are preparing for the U20 Africa cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament which is set to begin in Cote d’Ivoire from 26 April to 18 May 2025 and will feature 13 teams competing for continental glory and four qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025, after winning the WAFU Zone B competition in Togo last year.
Ezekiel and Farouq were among four players initially selected from Inspire Academy by coach Zubairu before the gaffer settled for both strikers to be part of the squad to make the trip for the friendly duel.
In a chat with SPORTSDAY, the team’s PRO, Oluwatope Ayokunle popularly known as ‘TUBABA’, expressed optimism that the players who made the team from the four players shortlisted will do well in the course of the program.
He stressed that INSPIRE SPORTS ACADEMY was established to groom exceptional players and be part of their developmental process as they inspire to do more.
TUBABA also commended the head of the academy, Francis Oggete for the ideology.
The Flying Eagles are drawn in Group B where they will face former champions Egypt and Morocco as well as South Africa.
In Group A, hosts Côte d’Ivoire will face DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and a second representative from the UNIFFAC region, making it one of the most competitive groups.
While Group C will have Senegal begin their title defence against Zambia, Kenya, and Sierra Leone, promising another fiercely contested group.
The TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON 2025 will follow a three-group format, with Group A containing five teams, while Groups B and C each feature four teams.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. From there, the tournament will proceed in a knockout format, culminating in the final on 18 May 2025.
Meanwhile, the four semi-finalists will book their place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 later this year, continuing Africa’s proud tradition of excellence on the world stage.
Senegal are the defending champions while Nigeria are the most successful team in the tournament’s history with seven titles (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015).
The full groups of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2025
Group A
Cote d’Ivoire
DR Congo
Ghana
Tanzania
UNIFFAC 2*
Group B
Nigeria
Egypt
Morocco
South Africa
Group C
Senegal
Zambia
Kenya
Sierra Leone
