CAF Unveils Group Stage Draw For 2026 U-17 AFCON In Morocco

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the group stage draw for the upcoming 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to be held from 13 May to 2 June in Morocco.

This draw was conducted at the CAF headquarters located in Cairo on Wednesday and was subsequently shared on the organization’s official website.

Morocco, the host nation, leads Group A in a competitive North African rivalry that features Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, indicating a highly competitive first round.

In Group B, former titleholders Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon spearhead the group, where they will compete against Uganda and the first-time participants DR Congo.

Group C consists of Mali, who won championships in 2015 and 2017 and were runners-up last year, alongside Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Defending champions Senegal are at the forefront of Group D, where they will contend against South Africa, Algeria, and Ghana.

The eight teams that successfully reach the quarter-finals will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. Meanwhile, the four teams that finish third will compete in playoff matches to determine the final two African spots, increasing the continent's representation to ten teams.

Nigeria will not participate in the tournament for the second consecutive time. The Golden Eaglets lost 2-0 to Ghana during the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, eliminating their chances of reaching the finals.