Ngorongoro Heroes to meet tough opponents in Afcon
Tanzania’s national U-20 football team, Ngorongoro Heroes players train. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Ngorongoro Heroes have been drawn into a highly competitive Group A together with hosts Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s U-20 national team (Ngorongoro Heroes) will face a stiff challenge in the upcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to take place in Egypt starting at the end of this month.
Ngorongoro Heroes have been drawn into a highly competitive Group A together with hosts Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
According to the fixture released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the tournament will kick off on April 27 with Egypt taking on South Africa and Zambia facing Sierra Leone. Tanzania’s first match will come on April 30, when they clash with South Africa and then continue with their campaign against Sierra Leone on May 3, followed by a decisive encounter against Zambia on May 6.
Their final and potentially group-defining match will be against the tournament hosts, Egypt, on May 9.
Group A is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in the competition, given the pedigree of the teams involved.
Egypt, as the host nation, will be aiming for glory on home soil, while South Africa and Zambia have strong youth football traditions and will not be easy opponents.
Sierra Leone, completing the group, will also be looking to cause upsets and push for a knockout berth.
Elsewhere, Group B includes Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, and Morocco, while Group C features Senegal, the Central African Republic, DR Congo, and Ghana—highlighting the depth and quality of youth football across the continent. The knockout stages of the tournament will commence after two rest days on May 10 and 11. The quarterfinals will be played on May 12, followed by the semifinals on May 15.
The third-place playoff and the final are scheduled for May 18.
Significantly, the tournament carries more than just continental bragging rights.
The four teams that reach the semifinals will automatically qualify as CAF’s representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
This adds an extra layer of importance to every fixture, as the young stars will not only compete for the trophy but also for a chance to shine on the global stage.
With determination and preparation, the Ngorongoro Heroes will aim to make their mark in Egypt and secure a historic qualification to the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
