2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

16 th edition of U-20 AFCON
2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 سنة 2021
Coupe d'Afrique des Nations des U-20 2021
Tournament details
Host countryMauritania
Dates14 February – 6 March[1]
Teams12 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)3 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Ghana (4th title)
Runners-up Uganda
Third place Gambia
Fourth place Tunisia
Tournament statistics
Matches played26
Goals scored52 (2 per match)
Top scorer(s)Uganda Derrick Kakooza
(5 goals)
Best player(s)Ghana Abdul Fatawu
Fair play award Uganda
← 2019
2023 →
International football competition

The 2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations was the 16th edition (23rd edition if editions of the tournament without hosts are included), the biennial international youth football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for players aged 20 and below. In September 2018, it was decided that the tournament would be hosted by Mauritania.[2][3][4][5] This would be the first edition of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations to be expanded to 12 teams instead of eight.[6] The top four teams of the tournament would have normally qualified for the 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia as the CAF representatives. However, FIFA decided to cancel the tournament on 24 December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

The defending champions Mali failed to qualify. Ghana won their fourth title by defeating debutant Uganda in the final.

Qualification

At the end of the qualification phase, eleven teams will join the hosts Mauritania.

Player eligibility

Players born 1 January 2001 or later are eligible to participate in the competition.

Qualified teams

The following 12 teams qualified for the group stages.

Note: All appearance statistics count only those since the introduction of the competition in 1991.

Team Zone Appearance Previous best performance
 Mauritania (hosts) West A Zone 1st Debut
 Morocco North Zone 5th Champions (1997)
 Tunisia North Zone 1st Debut
 Gambia West A Zone 3rd Third place (2007)
 Ghana West B Zone 12th Champions (1993, 1999, 2009)
 Burkina Faso West B Zone 4th Fourth place (2003)
 Uganda Central-East Zone 1st Debut
 Tanzania Central-East Zone 1st Debut
 Central African Republic Central Zone 1st Debut
 Cameroon Central Zone 10th Champions (1995)
 Namibia South Zone 1st Debut
 Mozambique South Zone 1st Debut

Venues

Nouakchott
Stade Olympique Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 8,200
Nouadhibou
Stade Municipal de Nouadhibou
Capacity: 10,300

Squads

Draw

The group stage draw was held on 25 January 2021, 11:00 AM WAT (UTC+1), at the Hilton Hotel in Cameroon.[8] The twelve teams were drawn into three groups of four teams. The hosts, Mauritania, were seeded in Group A and allocated to position A1, with Ghana and Burkina Faso, the only teams among the 12 who participated in the last edition of the CAN Total U20, drawn into B1 & C1 positions. All the other teams were in the same level and were distributed over the three groups.

Hosts Pot 1 Pot 2

Match officials

A total of 16 referees and 18 assistant referees were appointed for the tournament.[9]

Referees

Assistant Referees

Group stage

The top two teams of each group advance to the quarter finals along with the two best 3rd placed teams.

Tiebreakers

Teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 71):[citation needed]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

All times are in WAT (UTC+1).[10]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Cameroon 3 3 0 0 6 1 +5 9
2  Uganda 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2 6
3  Mauritania (H) 3 1 0 2 3 3 0 3
4  Mozambique 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Mauritania 0–1 Cameroon
Report
  • Jang Junior 81'
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Mutaz Ibrahim Al-Shalmani (Libya)
Uganda 2–0 Mozambique
 Report
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Mohamed Ali Moussa (Niger)
Cameroon 1–0 Uganda
  • Jang Junior 32'
 Report
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Souleiman Ahmed Djama (Djibouti)
Mauritania 2–0 Mozambique
  • M'Bareck 19'
  • Sanghare 45'
 Report
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Mahamat Alhadji Allaou (Chad)
Mozambique 1–4 Cameroon
Report
Mauritania 1–2 Uganda
  • Sanghare 37' (pen.)
 Report
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Ibrahim Kalilou Traoré (Ivory Coast)

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Burkina Faso 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7
2  Central African Republic 3 1 1 1 4 5 −1 4[a]
3  Tunisia 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 4[a]
4  Namibia 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Ranked on head-to-head points: Central African Republic 3pts, Tunisia 0pts.
Burkina Faso 0–0 Tunisia
Report
Referee: Samuel Uwikunda (Rwanda)
Namibia 1–1 Central African Republic
  • Kandjii 81'
 Report
Referee: Blaise Yuven Ngwa (Cameroon)
Tunisia 2–0 Namibia
 Report
Burkina Faso 3–1 Central African Republic
  • Bazie 45+2'
  • Chardey 55'
  • Beleme 63'
 Report
  • Ngoma 32'
Burkina Faso 1–0 Namibia
 Report
Referee: Mohamed Ali Moussa (Niger)
Tunisia 1–2 Central African Republic
 Report
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Messie Jessie Nkounkou Mvoutou (Congo)

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Morocco 3 2 1 0 4 0 +4 7
2  Gambia 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4[a]
3  Ghana 3 1 1 1 5 2 +3 4[a]
4  Tanzania 3 0 1 2 1 8 −7 1
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Ranked on head-to-head points: Gambia 3pts, Ghana 0pts.
Ghana 4–0 Tanzania
 Report
Referee: Mehrez Melki (Tunisia)
Gambia 0–1 Morocco
Report
Referee: Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)
Tanzania 1–1 Gambia
 Report
  • Bojang 40'
Morocco 0–0 Ghana
Report
Referee: Abdelaziz Bouh (Mauritania)
Ghana 1–2 Gambia
Report
  • Drammeh 16'
  • Jallow 33'
Tanzania 0–3 Morocco
Report
Referee: Samuel Uwikunda (Rwanda)

Ranking of third-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 C  Ghana 3 1 1 1 5 2 +3 4
2 B  Tunisia 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 4
3 A  Mauritania 3 1 0 2 3 3 0 3
Source: [citation needed]


Knockout stage

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
25 February 2021 – Stade Olympique
 
 
 Cameroon1 (2)
 
1 March 2021 – Stade Olympique
 
 Ghana (pen.)1 (4)
 
 Ghana1
 
26 February 2021 – Stade Olympique
 
 Gambia0
 
 Central African Republic0
 
6 March 2021 – Cheikha Ould Boïdiya
 
 Gambia3
 
 Ghana2
 
25 February 2021 – Cheikha Ould Boïdiya
 
 Uganda0
 
 Burkina Faso0 (3)
 
1 March 2021 – Stade Olympique
 
 Uganda (pen.)0 (5)
 
 Uganda4
 
26 February 2021 – Stade Municipal
 
 Tunisia1 Third place
 
 Morocco0 (1)
 
5 March 2021 – Stade Olympique
 
 Tunisia (pen.)0 (4)
 
 Gambia (pen.)0 (4)
 
 
 Tunisia0 (2)
 

Quarter finals

Cameroon 1–1 (a.e.t.) Ghana
  • Milla 103'
 Report
  • Boateng 105+2'
Penalties
 2–4
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Mahamat Alhadji Allaou (Chad)
Burkina Faso 0–0 (a.e.t.) Uganda
Report
Penalties
  • Djiga soccer ball with red X
  • Chardey soccer ball with check mark
  • Diané soccer ball with check mark
  • Bamba soccer ball with check mark
 3–5
  • soccer ball with check mark Kakooza
  • soccer ball with check mark Bukenya
  • soccer ball with check mark Najib YigaYiga
  • soccer ball with check mark Bogere
  • soccer ball with check mark Semakula
Referee: Blaise Yuven Ngwa (Cameroon)
Morocco 0–0 (a.e.t.) Tunisia
Report
Penalties
 1–4
Referee: Mutaz Ibrahim Al-Shalmani (Libya)
Central African Republic 0–3 Gambia
Report
  • Fofana 5'
  • Bojang 49'
  • Barry 90+2'
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Abdelaziz Bouh (Mauritania)

Semi finals

Ghana 1–0 Gambia
 Report
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Souleiman Ahmed Djama (Djibouti)
Uganda 4–1 Tunisia
Basangwa 4'
Kakooza 37', 50', 73'		 Report Ben Lamin 39'
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)

Third place

Gambia 0–0 (a.e.t.) Tunisia
Report
Penalties
  • Bojang soccer ball with check mark
  • Njie soccer ball with red X
  • Alieu Barry soccer ball with check mark
  • Salieu Jallow soccer ball with check mark
  • Kanteh soccer ball with check mark
 4–2
Referee: Celso Alvacao (Mozambique)

Final

Ghana 2–0 Uganda
 Report
Stade Olympique (Nouakchott)
Referee: Abdelaziz Bouh (Mauritania)

Winners

 2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations 

Ghana
Fourth title

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:

Player of the Tournament
Ghana Abdul Fatawu Issahaku[11]
Top Scorer
Uganda Derrick Kakooza

(5 goals)

Best Goalkeeper
Ghana Ibrahim Danlad[11]
Best Coach
Uganda Morley Byekwaso ( Uganda)
CAF Fair Play Team
 Uganda[11]

Team of the Tournament

Source:[11]

Coach: Uganda Morley Byekwaso

Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
Ghana Ibrahim Danlad Central African Republic Flory Yangao
Cameroon Blondon Meyapya
The Gambia Lamin Jawara
Uganda Aziz Kayondo 		Morocco El Mehdi Moubarik
The Gambia Lamarana Jallow
Tunisia Chiheb Labidi 		Ghana Abdul Fatawu
Uganda Derrick Kakooza
Burkina Faso Joffrey Bazié

Goalscorers

There have been 52 goals scored in 26 matches, for an average of 2 goals per match (as of 1 March 2021).

5 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Final standings

Per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by a penalty shoot-out are counted as draws.

Pos. Team Pld W D L Pts GF GA GD
1  Ghana 6 3 2 1 11 9 3 +6
2  Uganda 6 3 1 2 10 8 5 +3
3  Gambia 6 2 2 2 8 6 4 +2
4  Tunisia 6 1 3 2 6 4 6 −2
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
5  Cameroon 4 3 0 1 9 7 2 +5
6  Morocco 4 2 2 0 8 4 0 +4
7  Burkina Faso 4 2 2 0 8 4 1 +3
8  Central African Republic 4 1 1 2 4 4 8 −4
Eliminated in group stage
9  Mauritania 3 1 0 2 3 3 3 0
10  Namibia 3 0 1 2 1 1 4 −3
11  Mozambique 3 0 1 2 1 1 8 −7
12  Tanzania 3 0 1 2 1 1 8 −7

References

  1. ^ "2020 – 2021 IC Season (Final)" (PDF). Confederation of African Football.
  2. ^ "Can U20 2019: Mauritania officially responsible for organizing the competition". Uneath. 18 February 2019.
  3. ^ "CAN 2019 : un dernier sursis pour le Cameroun ?" (in French). CamFoot. 29 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Mauritania hosts the 2021 Afcon U20". FFRIM official website. 17 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Commitee [sic] – 27 & 28 September 2018". CAF. 29 September 2018.
  6. ^ "CAF Holds Executive Committee Meeting ahead of CAN Total U-23 Final". CAFOnline.com. CAF-Confedération Africaine du Football. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Update on FIFA Women's World Cup and men's youth competitions".
  8. ^ "Accreditation for official draw of Total U-20 AFCON Mauritania 2021". CAF. 25 January 2021.
  9. ^ "LIST OF SELECTED REFEREES U20 MAURITANIA 2021" (PDF). CAF.
  10. ^ @CAF_Online (January 31, 2019). "Here is the fixtures of #TotalAFCONU20" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ a b c d "Ghana's Fatawu named Total U20 AFCON player of the tournament". Confédération Africaine de Football. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023.
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