Hemed reacts to ‘tough’ U-20 AFCON draw

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA Under-20 Head Coach Suleiman Hemed ‘Morocco’ has acknowledged the tough road ahead after his team was drawn into a highly competitive Group A for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025.

The draw, held in Cairo, Egypt recently, placed Tanzania in a formidable group alongside hosts Egypt, former champions Zambia and South Africa, as well as tournament debutants Sierra Leone, making it one of the most challenging groups of the tournament.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with CafOnline.com, Coach Hemed said he was not surprised by the outcome and is preparing his squad for the difficult task ahead.

“We saw the group and it was exactly what we expected. Honestly, it’s not an easy group for us, but all three groups are strong. Everyone is here to win the cup, so we’ll just have to face our opponents head-on,” he said.

The tournament, scheduled to run from 27 April to 18 May 2025, will feature 13 teams across three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals.

In addition to continental glory, the four semi-finalists will secure a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year, adding even more weight to the competition.

For Tanzania, advancing to the knockout stages would mark a significant milestone in their youth football development. Coach Morocco stated that meticulous preparation and the right mentality will be crucial.

“Our biggest challenge now is how to prepare the team well enough to compete at this level,” he explained.

“We’re taking our group seriously. We’re here to challenge every opponent and do everything we can to win.”

Tanzania will face an Egypt squad fueled by home support, a skilled and experienced Zambian side, a resurgent South Africa, and Sierra Leone, eager to make a strong impression in their debut campaign.

Coach Hemed’s focus on readiness and competitive spirit highlights the rising ambition of Tanzanian football at the youth level. With World Cup qualification on the line, every match will carry immense significance, and Tanzania is determined to make its presence felt on the continental stage