The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the draw for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to run from 13 May to 2 June 2026 in Morocco.
The draw ceremony took place on Wednesday at CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, with details later published on the organisation’s official website.
Hosts Morocco headline Group A in what promises to be a fierce North African contest, as they were drawn alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
Only the top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, increasing the level of competition—especially in Group A.
Group B includes former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, along with Uganda and tournament newcomers DR Congo.
In Group C, Mali—champions in 2015 and 2017 and runners-up last year—will compete against Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Group D is spearheaded by 2023 champions Senegal, who are set to face South Africa, runners-up in 2015, as well as Algeria and Ghana.
The eight teams that 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 in their groups will battle in two play-off fixtures for the remaining slots, bringing Africa’s total representation at the tournament to 10 countries.
2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations – Groups:
* 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
NEWSCLICKNG Online had earlier reported that Nigeria will not take part in the competition for the second straight edition.
The Golden Eaglets were eliminated after a 2-0 loss to Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, ending their hopes of reaching the tournament.
