# 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

The 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualification was a men's under-20 football competition which decided the participating teams of the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
Players born 1 January 2003 or later were eligible to participate in the competition. A total of twelve teams qualified to play in the final tournament, including Egypt who qualified automatically as hosts.

## Teams

| Zone | Spots | Teams entering qualification | Did not enter |
| North Zone (UNAF) | 1 spot + hosts | Algeria  Libya  Morocco  Tunisia | Egypt (Q, H) |
| West A Zone (WAFU-UFOA A) | 2 spot | Cape Verde  Gambia  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  Liberia  Mali  Mauritania (H)  Senegal  Sierra Leone | |
| West B Zone (WAFU-UFOA B) | 2 spots | Benin  Burkina Faso  Ghana  Ivory Coast  Niger (H)  Nigeria  Togo | |
| Central Zone (UNIFFAC) | 2 spots | Cameroon  Central African Republic  Chad (W)  Congo (H)  DR Congo  Equatorial Guinea (W)  São Tomé and Príncipe (W) | Gabon |
| Central-East Zone (CECAFA) | 2 spots | Burundi  Djibouti  Ethiopia  South Sudan  Sudan (H)  Tanzania  Uganda | Eritrea  Kenya  Rwanda  Somalia |
| South Zone (COSAFA) | 2 spots | Angola  Botswana  Comoros  Eswatini (H)  Lesotho  Malawi  Mauritius  Mozambique  Namibia  Seychelles  South Africa  Zambia | Madagascar  Zimbabwe |

### Notes

* Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
* (H): Qualifying tournament hosts
* (Q): Automatically qualified for final tournament regardless of qualification results
* (W): Withdrew

## Schedule

The qualifying competition was split into regional competitions, with the teams entering the qualifying tournament of their zone. The schedule of each qualifying zone was as follows.
| Zone | Group stage | Knockout stage |
| West B Zone | 7–14 May 2022 | 17–20 May 2022 |
| West A Zone | 28 August–6 September 2022 | 9–11 September 2022 |
| South Zone | 7–12 October 2022 | 14–16 October 2022 |
| North Zone | 18–24 October 2022 | — |
| Central-East Zone | 28 October–5 November 2022 | 8–11 November 2022 |
| Central Zone | 8–14 December 2022 | — |

## North Zone

The 2022 UNAF U-20 Tournament, which also served as the qualifiers for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, took place between 18 and 24 October 2022 in Suez, Egypt. The draw for the fixtures was held on 20 July 2022. The four teams were placed in one group, with the winner qualifying for the final tournament.
All times are local, EGY (UTC+2).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Tunisia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 5 | 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations |
| 2 | Libya | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| 3 | Morocco | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Algeria | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 2 | |
* 1 2 Head-to-head result: Morocco 0–1 Libya.

## West A Zone

The WAFU-UFOA Zone A qualifiers for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations were hosted by Mauritania with the matches played between 28 August–11 September 2022. The matches were played at Nouakchott, Mauritania.
All times are local, GMT (UTC+0).

### Group stage

The seven teams were drawn into two groups of four and five teams. The winners and the runners-up of each group advanced to the semi-finals.

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Mali | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 7 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Mauritania (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 7 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Sierra Leone | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 3 | |
| 4 | Guinea-Bissau | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 0 | |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Senegal | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 10 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Gambia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Guinea | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 7 | |
| 4 | Cape Verde | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | −8 | 3 | |
| 5 | Liberia | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 1 | |

### Knockout stage

Winners qualified for 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 9 September – Cheikha Boïdiya | 9 September – Cheikha Boïdiya |
| Mali | 1 (2) |
| Mali | 1 (2) | 11 September – Cheikha Boïdiya | 11 September – Cheikha Boïdiya |
| Gambia (p) | 1 (4) | 11 September – Cheikha Boïdiya | 11 September – Cheikha Boïdiya |
| Gambia (p) | 1 (4) | Gambia | 0 |
| 9 September – Cheikha Boïdiya | 9 September – Cheikha Boïdiya | | Gambia | 0 |
| 9 September – Cheikha Boïdiya | 9 September – Cheikha Boïdiya | Senegal | 1 |
| Senegal | 4 | Senegal | 1 |
| Mauritania | 1 | | |

#### Final
## West B Zone

The WAFU-UFOA Zone B qualifiers for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations were hosted by Niger with the matches played between 7–20 May 2022. The draw was announced on 15 April 2022.
All times are local, WAT (UTC+1).

### Group stage

The seven teams were drawn into two groups of three and four teams. The winners and the runners-up of each group advanced to the semi-finals.

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Benin | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 7 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Ivory Coast | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 6 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Niger (H) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Togo | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 | |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Nigeria | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Burkina Faso | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Ghana | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 | |

### Knockout stage

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 17 May – Général Seyni Kountché | 17 May – Général Seyni Kountché |
| Benin | 2 |
| Benin | 2 | 20 May – Général Seyni Kountché | 20 May – Général Seyni Kountché |
| Burkina Faso | 1 | 20 May – Général Seyni Kountché | 20 May – Général Seyni Kountché |
| Burkina Faso | 1 | Benin | 1 |
| 17 May – Général Seyni Kountché | 17 May – Général Seyni Kountché | | Benin | 1 |
| 17 May – Général Seyni Kountché | 17 May – Général Seyni Kountché | Nigeria | 3 |
| Nigeria | 2 | Nigeria | 3 |
| Ivory Coast | 1 | | |
| Ivory Coast | 1 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 20 May – Général Seyni Kountché | 20 May – Général Seyni Kountché |
| | | Burkina Faso | 2 |
| | | Ivory Coast | 0 |

#### Semi-finals

Winners qualified for 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

#### Final
## Central Zone

The UNIFFAC qualifiers for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations were held in Congo between 8–14 December 2022.
The seven participating teams were drawn into two groups of four and three teams, with Congo, DR Congo, the Central African Republic and São Tomé and Príncipe drawn in Group A; and Cameroon, Chad and Equatorial Guinea drawn into Group B. However, on 25 November, São Tomé and Príncipe withdrew from the competition, with Chad and Equatorial Guinea following suit.
The four remaining teams were then placed in one group with the winners and the runners-up qualifying for the final tournament.
All times are local, WAT (UTC+1).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Congo (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 7 | 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations |
| 2 | Central African Republic | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations |
| 3 | Cameroon | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | DR Congo | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 1 | |

## Central-East Zone

The CECAFA qualifiers for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations were hosted by Sudan between 28 October and 11 November 2022. The draw for the fixtures was held on 11 October 2022.
All times are local, CAT (UTC+2).

### Group stage

The seven teams were drawn into two groups of three and four teams. The winners and the runners-up of each group advanced to the semi-finals.

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sudan (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 7 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | South Sudan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 5 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Burundi | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 4 | |
| 4 | Djibouti | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | −7 | 0 | |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ethiopia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Uganda | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Tanzania | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 | |

### Knockout stage

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 8 November – Al-Hilal Stadium | 8 November – Al-Hilal Stadium |
| Ethiopia | 2 (2) |
| Ethiopia | 2 (2) | 11 November – Al-Hilal Stadium | 11 November – Al-Hilal Stadium |
| South Sudan (p) | 2 (4) | 11 November – Al-Hilal Stadium | 11 November – Al-Hilal Stadium |
| South Sudan (p) | 2 (4) | South Sudan | 1 |
| 8 November – Kober Stadium | 8 November – Kober Stadium | | South Sudan | 1 |
| 8 November – Kober Stadium | 8 November – Kober Stadium | Uganda | 2 |
| Sudan | 0 | Uganda | 2 |
| Uganda | 2 | | |
| Uganda | 2 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 11 November – Al-Hilal Stadium | 11 November – Al-Hilal Stadium |
| | | Ethiopia | 1 |
| | | Sudan | 2 |

#### Semi-finals

Winners qualified for 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

#### Final
## South Zone

The COSAFA qualifiers for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations were hosted by Eswatini between 7–16 October 2022.
All times are local, SAST (UTC+2).

### Group stage

The twelve teams were drawn into three groups of four teams. The winners from each group and the best runners-up advanced to the semi-finals.

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Zambia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 9 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Eswatini (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 6 | |
| 3 | Botswana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Mauritius | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | −11 | 0 | |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Mozambique | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 9 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Angola | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2 | +11 | 6 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Lesotho | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 3 | |
| 4 | Seychelles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | −12 | 0 | |

#### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 6 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Malawi | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 6 | |
| 3 | Comoros | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 6 | |
| 4 | Namibia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 11 | −7 | 0 | |
* 1 2 3 Ranked on head-to-head goal difference: South Africa +2, Malawi 0, Comoros -2.

#### Ranking of second-placed teams

| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | B | Angola | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2 | +11 | 6 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | A | Eswatini | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 6 | |
| 3 | C | Malawi | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 6 | |

### Knockout stage

Winners qualified for 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 14 October – Somhlolo Stadium | 14 October – Somhlolo Stadium |
| Mozambique | 2 |
| Mozambique | 2 | 16 October – Somhlolo Stadium | 16 October – Somhlolo Stadium |
| South Africa | 1 | 16 October – Somhlolo Stadium | 16 October – Somhlolo Stadium |
| South Africa | 1 | Mozambique | 0 |
| 14 October – Somhlolo Stadium | 14 October – Somhlolo Stadium | | Mozambique | 0 |
| 14 October – Somhlolo Stadium | 14 October – Somhlolo Stadium | Zambia | 1 |
| Zambia (p) | 1 (3) | Zambia | 1 |
| Angola | 1 (2) | | |
| Angola | 1 (2) | Third place | Third place |
| | | 16 October – Somhlolo Stadium | 16 October – Somhlolo Stadium |
| | | South Africa (p) | 1 (4) |
| | | Angola | 1 (2) |

#### Final
## Qualified teams

The following 12 teams qualify for the final tournament.
| Team | Zone | Qualified on | Previous appearances in Africa U-20 Cup of Nations only final tournament era (since 1991) |
| Egypt (hosts) | North Zone | 16 May 2021 | 11 (1991, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017) |
| Benin | West B Zone | 17 May 2022 | 2 (2005, 2013) |
| Nigeria | West B Zone | 17 May 2022 | 11 (1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019) |
| Gambia | West A Zone | 9 September 2022 | 3 (2007, 2011, 2021) |
| Senegal | West A Zone | 9 September 2022 | 5 (1993, 1995, 2015, 2017, 2019) |
| Mozambique | South Zone | 14 October 2022 | 1 (2021) |
| Zambia | South Zone | 14 October 2022 | 7 (1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2015, 2017) |
| Tunisia | North Zone | 24 October 2022 | 1 (2021) |
| Uganda | Central-East Zone | 8 November 2022 | 1 (2021) |
| South Sudan | Central-East Zone | 8 November 2022 | 0 (debut) |
| Central African Republic | Central Zone | 14 December 2022 | 1 (2021) |
| Congo | Central Zone | 14 December 2022 | 2 (2007, 2015) |
    $^1$ Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

## Goalscorers

There were 212 goals scored in 79 matches, for an average of 2.68 goals per match.
5 goals
* Danilson Makokisa
4 goals
* Mukelo Nkambule
* Seydou Traoré
* Samba Diallo
3 goals
* Arthur Nibikora
* Mohamed Touré
* Divine Teah
* Amady Camara
* Ahmed Ahmed
* Chaimito Alfandega
* Ibrahim Muhammad
* Pape Diallo
2 goals
* Abdelali Hamadi
* João Brito
* Diógenes Inácio
* Farid Edou
* Harouna Dicko
* Abdel Rachid Zagré
* Boris Gbenou
* Déo Bassinga
* Oyeli Nguesso
* Siphephelo Philiso
* Kedir Ali
* Yosef Tarekegn
* Ba Lamin Sowe
* Mohamed Bangoura
* Emmanuel Gono
* Marlon Harrison
* Chifundo Mphasi
* Chikumbutso Salima
* Dénio Munhave
* Djwa Ramos
* Tolulope Ojo
* Ibrahim Yahaya
* Oumar Diouf
* Libasse Ngom
* Momoh Kamara
* Oshwin Andries
* Brenden Duba
* Mohau Nkota
* Relebohile Ratomo
* Agumemboki Felix
* Joseph Loro
* Mohamed Hedi Jertila
* Titus Ssematimba
* Songa Chipyoka
* Kingstone Mutandwa
* Rickson Ng'ambi
1 goal
* Younes Aitamer
* Adil Boulbina
* Rayan Dehilis
* Luís Borges
* Calhão
* Kali
* António Lopes
* Alfonso Paxe
* Isaac Vidal
* Bachirou Assolohan
* Djalilou Ibrahim
* Malick Tonguï
* Nonofo Mosweunyane
* Botshelo Motsheja
* Nagoro Dao
* Cyriaque Kalou
* Moussa Ky
* Kessy-Jordan Nimbona
* Alfred Nkurunziza
* Nsongo Tonfack Bil
* Djawal Kaïba
* Luís Maurício
* Tutucho
* Steven Pougui
* Samuel Betombo
* Yakine Said
* Glenn Younousse
* Josna Loulendo
* Jacques Ndecket
* Aldy Sousou
* Muapu Malanaga
* Sizwe Khumalo
* Mayibongwe Mabuza
* Zelalem Abate
* Wegene Gezahegn
* Adama Bojang
* Babucarr Faal
* Alieu Gibba
* Muhammed Jobe
* Mansour Mbye
* Alex Sarfo
* Aboubacar Bah
* Alhassane Camara
* Mohamed Camara
* Mohamed Keita
* Braima Camará
* Janickson da Silva
* Neo Maieane
* Tanki Tsibela
* Abdelmayser Boushiba
* Marwan Al Hbishi
* Chrispine Mapemba
* Vincent Mkandawire
* Emmanuel Saviel
* Malick Berthé
* Abdou Salam Dembélé
* Youba Koïta
* Sékou Sanogo
* Cheikh Amadou Abou
* Maata Magassa
* Mohamed M'Bareck
* Wassim Lantaki
* Omar Sadik
* Keyns Abdala
* António Sumbane
* José Zavala
* Lawrence Doeseb
* Rewaldo Prins
* Raymond Stern
* Alberto van Wyk
* Massoudi Salifou
* Ahmad Abdullahi
* Daniel Daga
* Souleymane Basse
* Pape Diop
* Malick Mbaye
* Jahni Nourrice
* Imra Raheriniaina
* Mohamed Fofanah
* Mamadou Lamin
* Luke Daniels
* Puso Dithejane
* Prince Manku
* Musa Ali
* Abdelsamat Omar
* Zeher Toto
* Athumani Makambo
* Dickson Mhilu
* Aziz Abid
* Mohamed Derbali
* Youssef Snana
* Issa Bugembe
* Rogers Mugisha
* Isma Mugulusi
* Rogers Torach
* Emmanuel Mukosha
* Lombe Mutale
1 own goal
* Nonofo Mosweunyane (against Eswatini)
* Eyasu Legese (against Sudan)