African young football talents will be on spotlights as Morocco and South Africa prepare for Sunday’s final of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
This is more so as five technical experts and international scouts attending the tournament say Africa’s football is not just growing — it has already evolved significantly.
“People often say African football is growing, but I always tell them it has already grown,” Daniel Amokachi, former Nigerian international and TSG member said.
According to him, having African players in top European leagues is a testament to growing nature of the game on the continent. “If it hadn’t, we wouldn’t have so many top African players competing all over the world.”
Amokachi, a former Everton striker who is also a trained coach, said one of the standout signs of progress is the composure of the coaches.
“In the past, young African coaches would bark instructions non-stop. I’ve been there myself — shouting from the touchline,” he recalled.
“But now, even when teams are behind, coaches stay composed. They communicate with clarity and confidence. That’s a major step forward.”
It is not just about coaching demeanor — on the pitch, tactical evolution has also been evident.
According to CAF technical study group, the tournament has shown a clear shift in how African youth teams approach the game — from tactics to discipline to coaching behaviour on the touchline.
For the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG) members and global scouts who have followed the tournament closely, the competition has not only revealed future stars but also highlighted how far African youth football has matured tactically and mentally.
