African Youth Championship

After several years of trying, the first African Youth Championship, under the name of Tessema Cup, was contested in 1979. It is the African qualifying section for the World Youth Championship.

Until 1989 it was contested as a cup tournament by direct elimination on home and away basis. Since 1991 there is a qualifying stage and then a final tournament played by 8 teams in a chosen country.

Palmares

U-21
1977  only qualifying competition for World Youth Cup.
1979 Algeria
1981 Egypt
1983 Nigeria
1985 Nigeria
1987 Nigeria
1989 Nigeria
1991 Egypt
1993 Ghana
1995 Cameroon
1997 Morocco
1999 Ghana
2001 Angola
U-20
2003 Egypt
2005 Nigeria
2007 Congo(-Brazzaville)
2009 Ghana
2011 Nigeria
2013 Egypt
2015 Nigeria
2017 Zambia
2019 Mali
2021 Ghana
2023 Senegal
2025 South Africa

Winners

 7 Nigeria

 4 Egypt
 4 Ghana

 1 Algeria
 1 Angola
 1 Cameroon
 1 Congo(-Brazzaville)
 1 Mali
 1 Morocco
 1 Senegal
 1 South Africa
 1 Zambia

Finals

1979    Algeria             2-1 Guinea
        Guinea              3-2 Algeria
1981    Cameroon            1-1 Egypt
        Egypt               2-0 Cameroon
1983    Ivory Coast         2-2 Nigeria
        Nigeria             2-1 Ivory Coast
1985    Tunisia             1-1 Nigeria
        Nigeria             2-1 Tunisia
1987    Togo                1-2 Nigeria
        Nigeria             3-0 Togo
1989    Mali                1-2 Nigeria
        Nigeria             2-0 Mali   
1991    Egypt               2-1 Ivory Coast
1993    Ghana               2-0 Cameroon
1995    Cameroon            4-0 Burundi
1997    Morocco             1-0 South Africa
1999    Ghana               1-0 Nigeria
2001    Angola              2-0 Ghana
2003    Egypt               4-3 Ivory Coast            [aet]
2005    Nigeria             2-0 Egypt
2007    Congo(-Brazzaville) 1-0 Nigeria
2009    Ghana               2-0 Cameroon
2011    Nigeria             3-2 Cameroon
2013    Egypt               1-1 Ghana                  [aet, 5-4 pen]
2015    Nigeria             1-0 Senegal
2017    Zambia              2-0 Senegal
2019    Mali                1-1 Senegal                [aet, 3-2 pen]
2021    Ghana               2-0 Uganda
2023    Senegal             2-0 Gambia
2025    South Africa        1-0 Morocco

            win   fin
Nigeria      7      9
Ghana        4      6
Egypt        4      5
Cameroon     1      5
Senegal      1      4
Mali         1      2
Morocco      1      2
South Africa 1      2
Algeria      1      1
Angola       1      1
Congo(-Br.)  1      1
Zambia       1      1
Ivory Coast         3
Burundi             1
Gambia              1
Guinea              1
Togo                1
Tunisia             1
Uganda              1
            24     48

About this document

Sources: [Bak 96], [CAF 87], [Oli 95]

Prepared and maintained by José Luis Pierrend for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Author: José Luis Pierrend (josepie@hotmail.com)
Last updated: 2 Jul 2025