Africa has proud history at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup
Africa can claim a pioneering role in the history of junior world championships, with Tunisia having hosted the first age group tournament in 1977 when it was called the World Youth Championship.
It has since evolved into the FIFA U-20 World Cup, with constant African involvement and achievement.
Since 1977, there have been 23 editions of the tournament, with Nigeria and Egypt also acting as hosts, and the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire from 26 April to 18 May 2025 will determine the continent’s four qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile from 27 September to 19 October 2025.
There have been some outstanding moments for African football at past tournaments, with these top five highlights
2009
Ghana became the first, and to date only, African winner of the U-20 World Cup, edging heavily fancied Brazil on post penalties after a goalless draw in the final in Cairo. Ghana, captained by Dede Ayew, who would go onto win more than 100 caps for the Black Stars, had been handicapped from late in the first half when Daniel Addo was sent off in a controversial call from the Belgian referee but battled through to the end of extra time, keeping their goal intact. They looked to have lost it, however, in the shootout as Brazil were 3-2 ahead with Maicon stepping up to win the title for them, only to blast wide. Then Dominic Adiyiah, who finished the tournament as top scorer with eight goals and won both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball as best player, equalised for the Black Satellites, coached by Sellas Tetteh. Alex Teixeira then had his kick saved by Daniel Adjei, leaving Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu to convert and bag for Africa a first U-20 World Cup.
1989
Nigeria were the first African country to reach the final against a star-studded Portugal side, losing 2-0 in the deciding game in Riyadh. But their performance at the tournament in Saudi Arabia is best remembered for the quarter-final against the Soviet Union, later dubbed the ‘Miracle of Dammam’ with its own dedicated Wikipedia page. It is the only game in FIFA competition history where a team has come back from 4-0 down to win the tie. The Flying Eagles conceded three goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half and then another straight after the break. But with just under 30 minutes remaining, Nigeria came storming back with goals from Oladimeji Lawal, Christopher Ohenhen, Samuel Elijah and captain and flying fullback Nduka Ugbade. They forced the game into extra time and Nigeria went onto advance to the semi-final 5-3 on post-match penalties.
1993
Six players from Ghana’s U-17 World Cup winning side of 1991 were back at under-20 level two years later to again take on Brazil. They had edged them in the quarter-finals in the under-17 tournament in Italy but lost out 2-1 in the final in Sydney, even after Emmanuel Duah had put the Black Satellites ahead. Ghana’s successful progression of players through their junior ranks to the senior side was no better evidenced than by their squad at the tournament in Australia, which included Nii Lamptey, Samuel Osei Kuffour and Charles Akonnor, who all went onto distinguished international careers.
2001
Ghana were runners-up for a second time, losing to hosts Argentina in the final in Buenos Aires. The West Africans topped their opening round group, ahead of France, before eliminating Brazil in the quarter-final in Cordoba with an extra time winner from centre back John Mensah, who went onto spend more than a decade in the Black Stars squad and play in the 2010 Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations final against Egypt in Angola.
2015
Mali lost 2-1 in extra time to Serbia in the semi-final in Auckland but Adama Traore was named as best player of the tournament in New Zealand. FIFA’s citation of him said: “dangerous attacking midfielder, quick off the mark, good vision and hold-up play, free-kick specialist”. Traore went onto sign for Lille and has played at Monaco and Hull City and is now in Turkey. He is still a regular in the Mali national team.