2023 U20 AFCON: Congo, Central African Republic Seal Qualification Slots

The list of nations that have qualified to compete in the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt is now complete with Congo Brazzaville and the Central African Republic.

Next year’s edition which is the 17th edition of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, a biennial international youth football competition run by CAF, is slated to take place from February 18 to March 12.

Congo emerged as champions of the zonal qualifiers after comfortably defeating DR Congo 3-0 in their final group match at the Stade Alphonse Massemba- Débat in Brazzaville.

With two wins and a draw from three games, they went undefeated to clinch the championship.

The Junior “Red Devils” and 2007 champions are returning to the competition after their last appearance in 2015, when they had a horrible campaign, finishing at the bottom of Group A with a single point from three games.

In 2007, they defeated Nigeria 1-0 to win the championship for the first and final time.

Central African Republic secured the final berth after finishing as runners-up with six points from three games.  They narrowly defeated dethroned zonal champions Cameroon 1-0 in the early kickoff.

CAR will participate in the finals for the second time next year. They had a fantastic showing in their first outing in 2021, coming in second place in Group B in front of Tunisia and Namibia, but their run came to an end in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 loss to The Gambia.