The official draw for the 2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament has been concluded at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Morocco, the host nation, has been drawn into a thrilling Group A alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The finals are scheduled to take place from 13 May to 2 June 2026 at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making Group A a fiercely contested group that mirrors the UNAF qualifiers in Libya, which was won by Morocco.
Group Breakdown
Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
Group B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
Group D: A Battle of Champions
The Black Starlets of Ghana have been drawn into the challenging Group D, where they will face defending champions Senegal, 2015 runners-up South Africa, and 2009 finalists Algeria.
Ghana’s U-17 side carries history in the tournament, having won the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations twice (1995 and 1999) and finishing as runners-up in 2005 and 2017.
Senegal, the reigning champions from 2023, will headline Group D, while South Africa and Algeria bring strong experience to the group. The group is widely expected to be one of the most competitive of the tournament.
Road to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The top eight teams from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, while the third-placed teams will face off in play-off matches to determine the final two African representatives.
A total of ten African countries will compete at the global finals.
The Black Starlets are poised to take on the challenge, aiming to progress beyond the group stage and secure a spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year.