DAR ES SALAAM: THE Head Coach of Tanzania’s U-20 national team, Ngorongoro Heroes, Boniface Mkwasa, has emphasised the importance of early preparations ahead of the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The tournament is scheduled to run from April 26 to May 18, 2025, in Côte d’Ivoire, featuring 13 teams vying for continental supremacy and four qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025.
Speaking about his squad’s readiness, following the Thursday official draw conducted by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), Mkwasa noted that the preparation period is short, necessitating hard work to ensure they are fully prepared for the prestigious tournament.
The draw, which took place at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, set the stage for a thrilling competition.
It produced an exciting group-stage lineup, with Tanzania placed in Group A alongside hosts Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ghana and a second representative from the UNIFFAC region.
“We need to start early because the tournament is approaching faster than we might think. We must assess the age eligibility of our players, as some may have exceeded the required age limit compared to previous tournaments,” Mkwasa stated.
ALSO READ: TZ Women U-20 hammer Djibouti in WC qualifiers
He stressed the need for mental strength, in such a high-profile tournament, players must be psychologically strong.
“The team must develop a winning mentality and confidence to handle the pressure of facing experienced teams like Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Our focus will be on discipline, teamwork and consistency.” Mkwasa further explained that the importance of a well-structured preparation plan and securing the necessary budget to ensure the team has all the required resources for effective training.
“We are in a tough group; we have no choice but to fight. We must implement solid strategies to compete against Africa’s best teams,” he added.
Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Heroes will be among the teams competing in the highly anticipated CAF Under-20 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. In Group B, Nigeria will face tough competition from former champions Egypt and Morocco, along with South Africa.
Meanwhile, defending champions Senegal will compete in Group C against Zambia, Kenya and Sierra Leone. The tournament will feature a three-group format, with Group A consisting of five teams, while Groups B and C will have four teams each.
The top two teams from each group will automatically advance to the quarter-finals, along with the two best thirdplaced teams. From there, the competition will proceed in a knockout format, culminating in the grand final on May 18, 2025.
