By: Kwame Bediako
The 2025 edition of the Cheetah Cup is set to be its most extensive yet, featuring 24 youth football teams from 13 different African countries. The tournament, renowned as a vital platform for nurturing young talent, will take place from August 17 to 25 in Senya Beraku, Ghana. This expansion highlights the tournament’s increasing reputation across the continent as a premier event for developing the next generation of African football stars.
This year’s participants showcase a diverse array of football cultures from across Africa.
Teams such as Nigeria’s HypeBuzz FC and Mali’s Djikiya FC will compete alongside clubs from Cameroon and Burkina Faso, including Oyili FC and Salitas FC. Notably, teams from Cameroon and Benin will make their debut at the tournament, further broadening its pan-African reach and encouraging greater regional representation.
Ghana, the host nation, will be well represented with 12 teams, including some of the country’s most prominent clubs like Asante Kotoko SC and Hearts of Oak. The tournament will also feature influential academies such as MSK Zilina Africa and Cheetah FC, providing a mix of established clubs and innovative youth development programs. This blend aims to elevate Ghana’s reputation as a footballing hub for emerging talent.
With European scouts and agents expected to be in attendance, the Cheetah Cup 2025 offers a rare opportunity for young African players to gain international exposure. The tournament continues to serve as a career-defining platform, where talented youth can impress scouts and potentially secure opportunities to play abroad or join professional clubs.
