2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
Tournament details
Host countriesLibya (North Zone)
Mali (West A Zone)
Ivory Coast (West B Zone)
DR Congo (Central Zone)
Ethiopia (Central-East Zone)
Zimbabwe (South Zone)
Dates11 September 2025 –
Teams49
Tournament statistics
Matches played35
Goals scored109 (3.11 per match)
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The 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification is a men's under-17 football competition that decided the participating teams of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Players born on 1 January 2009 or later were eligible to participate in the competition. The host country for the final stage of the edition is Morocco, appointed during the annual CAF Executive Committee meeting along the 2024 CAF Awards ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco where CAF appointed the country as host.[1]

Teams

Zone Spots Teams entering qualification Did not enter
North Zone
(UNAF) 		3 spots
West A Zone
(WAFU-UFOA A) 		3 spots
  •  Cape Verde
West B Zone
(WAFU-UFOA B) 		2 spots
Central Zone
(UNIFFAC) 		2 spots
  •  Chad
  •  São Tomé and Príncipe
Central-East Zone
(CECAFA) 		3 spots
  •  Eritrea
South Zone
(COSAFA) 		3 spots
Notes
  • Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
  • (W): Withdrew after draw

North Zone

Main article: 2026 UNAF U-17 Tournament
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Algeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
2  Egypt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Libya (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Morocco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Tunisia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 22 March 2026.
Source: UNAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(H) Hosts

West A Zone

The WAFU-UFOA Zone A qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by Mali with the matches played starting 5 October 2025. The matches will be played at Bamako, Mali.

All times are local, GMT (UTC+0).

Group stage

The eight teams were drawn into two groups of four teams. The winners and the runners-up of each group advanced to the semi-finals.

Tiebreakers

Teams were ranked according to the three points for a win system (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if two teams were tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13):[2]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in all group matches;
  3. Goals scored in all group matches;
  4. Drawing of lots.

If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:

  1. Points in matches between the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
  4. If after applying all criteria above, two teams were still tied, the above criteria were again applied to matches played between the two teams in question. If this did not resolve the tie, the next three criteria were applied;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Guinea-Bissau 3 2 1 0 7 2 +5 7 Semi-finals
2  Mali (H) 3 1 2 0 9 3 +6 5
3  Gambia 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2 4
4  Liberia 3 0 0 3 1 14 −13 0
Source: WAFU A
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Mali 6–0 Liberia
  • Touré 11' (pen.), 24'
  • Kamissoko 20'
  • F. Sidibé 87'
  • Keïta 90+2', 90+4'
Gambia 0–2 Guinea-Bissau
J. Balde 30', 78'
Liberia 0–4 Gambia
  • Kanyi 1'
  • Leigh 38'
  • Drammeh 61' (pen.)
  • Loum 90+2'
Koulikoro Stadium, Koulikoro
Guinea-Bissau 1–1 Mali
  • J. Balde 60'
  • S. Diarra 90+2'
Koulikoro Stadium, Koulikoro
Mali 2–2 Gambia
  • Touré 72' (pen.)
  • Maïga 81'
  • L. Bojang 50'
  • Leigh 85'
Guinea-Bissau 4–1 Liberia
  • Biai 57' (pen.)
  • Bassague 69', 78'
  • Dabo 90+2'
 Hyne 6'

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Guinea 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7 Semi-finals
2  Senegal 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 5
3  Mauritania 3 1 0 2 2 3 −1 3
4  Sierra Leone 3 0 1 2 3 6 −3 1
Source: WAFU A
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Senegal 1–1 Sierra Leone
Faye 53' Samura 11'
Mauritania 0–1 Guinea
M. Sylla 52'
Sierra Leone 1–2 Mauritania
  • Mhaimid 70'
  • El Ide 82'
Guinea 1–1 Senegal
S. Sylla 88' Dione 7'
Senegal 1–0 Mauritania
Diallo 47'
Guinea 3–1 Sierra Leone
  • Cissé 19'
  • Sano 34', 70'
  • Sidibay 10'

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
15 October – Bamako
 
 
 Guinea-Bissau0
 
18 October – Bamako
 
 Senegal4
 
 Senegal2
 
15 October – Bamako
 
 Mali0
 
 Guinea1
 
 
 Mali2
 
Third place
 
 
18 October – Bamako
 
 
 Guinea-Bissau (p)1 (4)
 
 
 Guinea1 (2)

Semi-finals

Winners qualified for 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Guinea-Bissau 0–4 Senegal
  • Ndiaye 34'
  • Faye 43'
  • Niang 50'
  • Ba 90+5'
Referee: Baboucarr Bass (Gambia)
Guinea 1–2 Mali
S. Sylla 4'
  • Sogodogo 45+2'
  • Kamissoko 85'
Referee: Abdelkader M'Bareck (Mauritania)

Third place play-off

Guinea-Bissau 1–1 Guinea
Ravi Ca 57' Sano 63' (pen.)
Penalties
  • Bassague
  • Ravi Ca
  • Danfa
  • Biai
4–2
  • S. Sylla
  • Sano
  • Chérif
  • Bayo
Referee: Aida Sy (Senegal)

Final

Senegal 2–0 Mali
Faye 40', 50'
Referee: Sulaiman Kamara (Sierra Leone)

West B Zone

The WAFU-UFOA Zone B qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by Ivory Coast with the matches played between 20 September and 3 October 2025, the draw was announced on 4 September 2025.[3]

All times are local, GMT (UTC±0).

Group stage

The seven teams were drawn into two groups of three and four teams. The winners and the runners-up of each group advanced to the semi-finals.

Tiebreakers

Teams were ranked according to the three points for a win system (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if two teams were tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13):[2]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in all group matches;
  3. Goals scored in all group matches;
  4. Drawing of lots.

If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:

  1. Points in matches between the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
  4. If after applying all criteria above, two teams were still tied, the above criteria were again applied to matches played between the two teams in question. If this did not resolve the tie, the next three criteria were applied;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Ivory Coast (H) 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7 Semi-finals
2  Ghana 3 1 1 1 4 5 −1 4
3  Niger 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 3
4  Togo 3 0 2 1 3 5 −2 2
Source: WAFU
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Ivory Coast 2–0 Niger
  • Bamba 73'
  • Doumbia 90+3'
Referee: Hamidou Diero (Burkina Faso)
Togo 1–1 Ghana
Ganiou 63' (pen.) Report (GFA) Narbi 9'
Niger 3–1 Togo
  • Touba 42'
  • Moctar 44', 50'
 Report (FTF)
  • Amega 3'
Stade Lycée Scientifique, Yamoussoukro
Ghana 0–3 Ivory Coast
Report (GFA)
  • Doumbia 3'
  • Hubert 48'
  • Bamba 59'
Ivory Coast 1–1 Togo
Ar. Diabaté 64' Report (FTF) Amega 90+3'
Stade Lycée Scientifique, Yamoussoukro
Ghana 3–1 Niger
  • Gavi 2', 90+1'
  • Mensah 82'
 Report (GFA)
  • Arbi 7'

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Nigeria 2 1 1 0 4 1 +3 4 Semi-finals
2  Burkina Faso 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1 4
3  Benin 2 0 0 2 1 5 −4 0
Source: WAFU
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Burkina Faso 1–0 Benin
Koné 49'
Stade Lycée Scientifique, Yamoussoukro
Referee: Mohamed El Baroudi (Morocco)
Benin 1–4 Nigeria
  • Zannou 45'
  • Agha 4' (pen.), 14', 31'
  • Edeh 6'
Stade Lycée Scientifique, Yamoussoukro
Nigeria 0–0 Burkina Faso
Stade Lycée Scientifique, Yamoussoukro

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
30 September – Yamoussoukro
 
 
 Ivory Coast2
 
3 October – Yamoussoukro
 
 Burkina Faso1
 
 Ivory Coast (p)0 (4)
 
30 September – Yamoussoukro
 
 Ghana 0 (3)
 
 Nigeria0
 
 
 Ghana2
 
Third place
 
 
3 October – Yamoussoukro
 
 
 Burkina Faso0
 
 
 Nigeria2

Semi-finals

Winners qualified for 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ivory Coast 2–1 Burkina Faso
  • Tuo 40'
  • Doumbia 58'
  • Diakité 25'
Referee: Mohamed El Baroudi (Morocco)
Nigeria 0–2 Ghana
Report (GFA)
  • Awuli 21'
  • Gavi 31'
Referee: Kossi Fabrice Senyo (Togo)

Third place play-off

Burkina Faso 0–2 Nigeria
  • Yusuf 50'
  • Umole 77'
Stade Lycée Scientifique, Yamoussoukro
Referee: Hugues Modeste Kokora (Ivory Coast)

Final

Ivory Coast 0–0 Ghana
Penalties
 4–3
Referee: Kossi Fabrice Senyo (Togo)

Central Zone

All times are local, WAT (UTC+1).

The UNIFFAC qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 18–23 February 2026. The qualifying tournament draw was held on 4 February 2026. Six UNIFFAC members were originally going to compete in a single round-robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the final tournament. However, on 16 February, Congo withdrew from the competition due to a number of players being deemed overage by the MRI tests, on 18 February, Equatorial Guinea also withdrew for the same reasons.[4]

The four remaining teams were then placed in one group with the winners and the runners-up qualifying for the final tournament.[5][6]

Tiebreakers

Teams were ranked according to the three points for a win system (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if two teams were tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13):[2]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in all group matches;
  3. Goals scored in all group matches;
  4. Drawing of lots.

If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:

  1. Points in matches between the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
  4. If after applying all criteria above, two teams were still tied, the above criteria were again applied to matches played between the two teams in question. If this did not resolve the tie, the next three criteria were applied;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Results

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Cameroon 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
2  DR Congo (H) 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1 6
3  Gabon 3 1 0 2 5 8 −3 3
4  Central African Republic 3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0
Source: Uniffac
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Cameroon 5–1 Gabon
Referee: Ruth Nandaiz Bilembi (Congo)
Gabon 1–3 DR Congo
Referee: Aimé Landry Belly de Sombozo (Central African Republic)
Central African Republic 0–2 Cameroon
Referee: Gerson Esono Angono (Equatorial Guinea)
DR Congo 2–1 Central African Republic
Referee: Yanick Fodouop (Cameroon)
Central African Republic 0–3 Gabon
Referee: Lambert Museka (DR Congo)
DR Congo 0–2 Cameroon
Referee: Ruth Nandaiz Bilembi (Congo)

Central-East Zone

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Ethiopia (H) 4 3 1 0 10 4 +6 10 Semi-finals
2  Kenya 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 7
3  Somalia 4 1 3 0 9 6 +3 6
4  South Sudan 4 1 1 2 5 9 −4 4
5  Rwanda 4 0 0 4 2 9 −7 0
Source: CECAFA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) head-to-head matches; 3) Goal difference; 4) Number of goals scored.
(H) Hosts
Somalia 2–2 South Sudan
  • An. Mohamed 44'
  • Yusuf 90+3'
 Report
  • David 75'
  • Juo 88'
Rwanda 0–2 Ethiopia
Report
  • Kassaw 31'
  • Shafi 34'
South Sudan 1–4 Ethiopia
 Report
  • Kassaw 13', 17', 52'
  • Seleshi 56'
Referee: Ismael Said Abdillahi (Djibouti)
Somalia 1–1 Kenya
An. Mohamed 55' Report Ochieng 31'
Referee: Amro Mohammed (Sudan)
Kenya 2–1 Rwanda
  • Ochola 69'
  • Nasasiro 77'
 Report
  • Nshimiyimana 37'
Ethiopia 3–3 Somalia
  • Kassaw 40', 52' (pen.)
  • Alemayehu 85'
 Report
  • Omar 36', 87'
  • Yusuf 90+2'
Rwanda 0–3 Somalia
Report
  • Osman 59', 84'
  • Abdulahi 86'
Kenya 2–0 South Sudan
  • Wanyonyi 12'
  • Nasasiro 89'
 Report
South Sudan 2–1 Rwanda
  • Lombe 20'
  • Juo 69'
 Report
  • Nshimiyimana 54'
Ethiopia 1–0 Kenya
Kassaw 65' Report

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Tanzania 4 4 0 0 24 1 +23 12 Semi-finals
2  Uganda 4 3 0 1 20 2 +18 9
3  Sudan 4 2 0 2 4 16 −12 6
4  Burundi 4 1 0 3 1 10 −9 3
5  Djibouti 4 0 0 4 1 21 −20 0
Source: CECAFA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) head-to-head matches; 3) Goal difference; 4) Number of goals scored.
Tanzania 6–0 Sudan
  • Athanasi 10', 16'
  • Luzelenga 21'
  • Juma 57'
  • Shabani 74'
  • Baruai 80'
 Report
Burundi 0–4 Uganda
Report
  • Ogema 11', 28'
  • Mukisa 31', 41'
Sudan 0–9 Uganda
Report
  • Mukisa 10', 13'
  • Ogema 43'
  • Kombi 55', 73'
  • Owino 69'
  • Fahad 78'
  • Babi 81'
  • Kayemba 89'
Tanzania 11–0 Djibouti
  • Chole 13'
  • Mbalasalu 18', 25', 34', 52', 54' (pen.), 72'
  • Hamis 27'
  • Juma 45+1'
  • Athanasi 62'
  • Shabani 71'
 Report
Referee: Solomon Lokudo (South Sudan)
Djibouti 0–1 Burundi
Report Irabaruta 30'
Uganda 1–2 Tanzania
  • Fahad 15'
 Report
  • Athanasi 26'
  • Shabani 66'
Burundi 0–5 Tanzania
Report
  • Hamis 6', 37', 55'
  • Kilendemo 8'
  • Likungilo 87'
Djibouti 1–3 Sudan
 Report
  • Sami Hassan 38'
  • El-Hassan Hilmi 44', 90+2'
Sudan 1–0 Burundi
Al-Amin Ahmed 34' Report
Uganda 6–0 Djibouti
  • Ogema 15'
  • Jemba 45+2'
  • Kayemba 46'
  • Olwa 51', 53'
  • Fahad 72'
 Report

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
30 November – Addis Ababa
 
 
 Tanzania3
 
2 December – Addis Ababa
 
 Kenya1
 
 Tanzania3
 
30 November – Addis Ababa
 
 Uganda2
 
 Ethiopia0
 
 
 Uganda3
 
Third place
 
 
2 December – Addis Ababa
 
 
 Ethiopia3
 
 
 Kenya0

South Zone

Main article: 2025 COSAFA Under-17 Championship

The COSAFA qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations were held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 11 to 20 September 2024. The draw for the groups took place on 5 August 2025.

The qualification structure was as follows:

  • Group stage: The 12 teams were divided into three groups, with the group winners and the best runner-up advancing to the knockout stage.
  • Knockout stage: The four teams advancing from the second round competed in a three-match knockout round, with the winners of the semifinals qualifying for the final tournament.

Group stage

Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Mozambique 3 2 1 0 5 0 +5 7 Semi-finals
2  Comoros 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4 7
3  Zimbabwe (H) 3 0 1 2 2 4 −2 1
4  Eswatini 3 0 1 2 0 7 −7 1
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Africa 3 3 0 0 13 2 +11 9 Semi-finals
2  Malawi 3 2 0 1 6 6 0 6
3  Zambia 3 1 0 2 6 7 −1 3
4  Madagascar 3 0 0 3 3 13 −10 0
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Angola 3 3 0 0 17 0 +17 9 Semi-finals
2  Lesotho 3 1 1 1 3 7 −4 4
3  Botswana 3 0 2 1 1 6 −5 2
4  Mauritius 3 0 1 2 3 11 −8 1
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Knockout stage

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
18 September – Harare
 
 
 South Africa7
 
20 September – Harare
 
 Comoros0
 
 South Africa2
 
18 September – Harare
 
 Angola1
 
 Mozambique0
 
 
 Angola1
 
Third place
 
 
20 September – Harare
 
 
 Comoros0
 
 
 Mozambique3

Goalscorers

There have been 156 goals scored in 51 matches, for an average of 3.06 goals per match (as of 18 October 2025).

8 goals

  • Pedro Antonio

5 goals

  • Thandanani Mhlongo

4 goals

  • Marcos Lazaro
  • Souleymane Faye
  • Omphemetse Sekgoto

3 goals

  • Paulo Luvumbo
  • Robinho Gavi Yao
  • Moussa Sano
  • Joãozinho Balde
  • Bema Doumbia
  • James Lumbe
  • Abdoulaye Touré
  • George Agha
  • Mpho Molepo
  • Inganathi Simama

2 goals

  • Costantino Chianica
  • Eliseu Francisco
  • Jairo Muanha
  • Fasifdine Ahamada
  • Mathis Ali
  • Alagie Baba Leigh
  • Seydouba Sylla
  • Ivaldino Bassague
  • Souhailio Bamba
  • William Rambeloson
  • Ismaël Kamissoko
  • Sanaba Keïta
  • Paw Kee
  • Chauson Nhabanga
  • Ibrahim Moctar
  • Ntokozo Madondo
  • Mpho Mbilini
  • Bernabé Amega
  • Kelvin Chipelu

1 goal

  • Manuel Morais
  • Aphelele Majola
  • Jérémy Zannou
  • Marcus Koketso
  • Halidou Diakité
  • Assifou Koné
  • Kais Ali
  • Fahad Mohamed
  • Lamin Bojang
  • Alieu Drammeh
  • Ahmed Njundu Kanyi
  • Modou Loum
  • Michael Awuli
  • Mark Mensah
  • Joseph Narbi
  • Kabir Cissé
  • M. Zayatte Sylla
  • Alexandre Biai
  • Ravi Ca
  • Aiuba Dabo
  • Arafat Diabaté
  • Yao Hubert
  • Souleymane Tuo
  • Fisane Leanya
  • Lechesa Makhupane
  • Morena Masithela
  • Alloycious Hyne
  • Tinai Razanadrakoto
  • Joel Maziya
  • Eli Rundles
  • Salia Diarra
  • Aboubacar Maïga
  • Fousseyni Sidibé
  • Mohamed Sogodogo
  • Sidi El Ide
  • Isselmou Mhaimid
  • Nicholas Fani
  • Kristff Machava
  • Joaquim Mubai
  • Ismaël Arbi
  • Ibrahim Touba
  • David Edeh
  • Famous Umole
  • Ahmed Yusuf
  • Mahamet Ba
  • Mamadou Diallo
  • Ibrahima Dione
  • El Hadji Ndiaye
  • Magueye Niang
  • James Kanja
  • Musa Samura
  • Abubakarr Sidibay
  • Siyabonga Mbongo
  • Sultan Ganiou
  • Albert Kunda
  • Steven Lungu
  • Caleb Musonda
  • Mapalo Simute
  • Tadiwa Chakuchichi

1 own goal

  • Rayad Aboudou (against Zimbabwe)
  • Irintsoa Rakotoharimalala (against Malawi)
  • Elvino Andre (against Angola)
  • Emmanuel Mbuti (against South Africa)

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "CAF Executive Committee approves 2025 Competition Calendar and TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final Draw Date". 16 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "U-17 AFCON Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers". 23 April 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  4. ^ "UNIFFAC U17 : RDC - Guinée Equatoriale annulé pour fraudes sur l'âge" (in French). 19 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  5. ^ "São Tomé e Príncipe desiste do CAN sub20" (in French). 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  6. ^ "L'Uniffac encore dans les cordes !" (in French). 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
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