16 Teams Confirmed for 2026 U-17 AFCON in Morocco
• Punch Newspapers • Sports
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the participation of 16 teams for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will take place in Morocco from April 25 to May 15, 2026. Algeria secured its qualification by defeating Egypt 1-0 at the Martyr Benina Stadium. This tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, where the top 10 teams will earn spots in the global youth championship, which is set to expand to 48 teams in November 2026. Notably, Nigeria's U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, will not feature in the tournament for the second consecutive time, having suffered a 2-0 defeat to Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers held in September 2025. The qualification process for the U-17 AFCON is organized through a zonal system across CAF's six recognized regions.
Topics: Sports