The CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025 quarter-finals serve up a tantalising heavyweight duel as seven-time champions Nigeria lock horns with defending title holders Senegal on Monday in Ismailia, Soccernet.ng reports .
It's a clash that doesn't just boast history and prestige - it's loaded with tactical nuance, emerging stars, and a FIFA U-20 World Cup place dangling as the ultimate carrot.
For Senegal, it's a step closer to making history by becoming only the second team after Nigeria's Flying Eagles to defend the U20 AFCON title successfully. For Nigeria, it's a golden opportunity to reassert their dominance at youth level and return to the summit of African football after falling short in 2023.
Nigeria vs Senegal: How they qualifiedSenegal punched their ticket to Egypt 2025 by clinching the WAFU Zone A Championship, defeating Sierra Leone 2-0 in the final thanks to goals from Cheikh Tidiane Thiam and Ibrahima Dieng. It was their second consecutive zonal triumph.
Nigeria, meanwhile, had to recover from an opening defeat to Burkina Faso in the WAFU Zone B tournament. The Flying Eagles bounced back impressively, beating Cote d'Ivoire and Niger before edging rivals Ghana in the final to lift the regional crown.