2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification|
| Host countries | TBD (North Zone) Mali (West A Zone) Ivory Coast (West B Zone) DR Congo (Central Zone) Ethiopia (Central-East Zone) Zimbabwe (South Zone) |
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| Dates | 11 September 2025 – |
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| Teams | 49 |
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|
| Matches played | 35 |
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| Goals scored | 109 (3.11 per match) |
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2027 → |
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
- Notes
- Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
- (W): Withdrew after draw
North Zone
Source:
UNAFRules 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]
- Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Drawing of lots.
If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:
- Points in matches between the tied teams;
- Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
- Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
- 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;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Drawing of lots.
Group A
Group B
Knockout stage
Bracket
Semi-finals
Winners qualified for 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Third place play-off
Final
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]
- Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Drawing of lots.
If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:
- Points in matches between the tied teams;
- Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
- Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
- 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;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Drawing of lots.
Group A
Group B
Knockout stage
Bracket
Semi-finals
Winners qualified for 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Third place play-off
Final
Central Zone
The UNIFFAC qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 17–23 February 2026. The qualifying tournament draw was held on 4 February 2026. Six UNIFFAC members competed in a single round-robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the final tournament.
Group stage
The six teams were drawn into two groups of three 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]
- Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Drawing of lots.
If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:
- Points in matches between the tied teams;
- Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
- Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
- 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;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Drawing of lots.
Group A
Group B
Central-East Zone
Group stage
Group A
Source: CECAFA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) head-to-head matches; 3) Goal difference; 4) Number of goals scored.
(H) Hosts
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.
Bracket
South Zone
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
Knockout stage
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
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| Qualifying for U-16 World Cup | |
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| Qualifying for U-17 World Cup | |
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| African U-17 Championship | | Tournaments | |
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| Qualification | |
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| Squads |
- 1995
- 1997
- 1999
- 2001
- 2003
- 2005
- 2007
- 2009
- 2011
- 2013
- 2015
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| U-17 Africa Cup of Nations | | Tournaments | |
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| Qualification | |
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| Squads | |
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