2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
Tournament details
Host countriesMorocco (North Zone)
Senegal (West A Zone)
Ghana (West B Zone)
Cameroon (Central Zone)
Uganda (Central-East Zone)
South Africa (South Zone)
Dates15 May 2024 – 22 February 2025
Teams41
Tournament statistics
Matches played73
Goals scored235 (3.22 per match)
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The 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification was a men's under-17 football competition that decided the participating teams of the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Players born on 1 January 2008 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]

For this competition, it was expanded to 16 teams, so third place teams from some regions also qualified. In February 2025, the teams advancing were announced.[2]

Teams

Zone Spots Teams entering qualification Did not enter
North Zone
(UNAF) 		3 spots
West A Zone
(WAFU-UFOA A) 		3 spots
  •  Cape Verde
West B Zone
(WAFU-UFOA B) 		2 spots
Central Zone
(UNIFFAC) 		2 spots
Central-East Zone
(CECAFA) 		3 spots
South Zone
(COSAFA) 		3 spots
Notes
  • Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
  • (W): Withdrew after draw

North Zone

Main article: 2024 UNAF U-17 Tournament (Morocco)

The UNAF qualifiers took place in Casablanca, Morocco, from 11 to 23 November 2024. The qualifying tournament draw was held on 1 October 2024. The five UNAF members competed in a single round-robin format with the top three teams qualifying for the final tournament.

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Egypt 4 3 0 1 13 9 +4 9 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
2  Morocco (H) 4 2 2 0 10 4 +6 8
3  Tunisia 4 2 1 1 7 6 +1 7
4  Algeria 4 1 1 2 5 6 −1 4
5  Libya 4 0 0 4 4 14 −10 0
Source: UNAF
Rules 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 were hosted by Senegal with the matches played starting 22 October 2024. The matches were played at Dakar, Senegal.

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. Guinea withdrew after the draw.

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):[3]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in all group matches;
  3. Goals scored in all group matches;
  4. Drawing of lots.

If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:

  1. Points in matches between the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
  4. 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;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Senegal (H) 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 6 Semi-finals
2  Gambia 2 1 0 1 5 3 +2 3
3  Liberia 2 0 0 2 1 6 −5 0
4  Guinea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew
Source: WAFU A
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Senegal 2–1 Liberia
  • Dabo 5'
  • E. Sow 7'
 Report Wile 90+3'
Gambia 1–3 Senegal
Gomez 42' Report
  • Dabo 1'
  • E. Cissé 22' (pen.)
  • Mané 86'
Referee: Abdel Kader M'Bareck (Mauritania)
Gambia 4–0 Liberia
  • Pewee 23' (o.g.)
  • Gomez 29', 64'
  • Susso 58'
 Report

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Mali 3 3 0 0 6 0 +6 9 Semi-finals
2  Guinea-Bissau 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4
3  Sierra Leone 3 1 0 2 1 2 −1 3
4  Mauritania 3 0 1 2 0 5 −5 1
Source: WAFU A
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Mali 1–0 Sierra Leone
Dembélé 8' Report
Mauritania 0–0 Guinea-Bissau
Report
Sierra Leone 1–0 Mauritania
Kabia 45+1' Report
Referee: Younoussa Tawel Camara (Guinea)
Guinea-Bissau 0–1 Mali
Report Diakité 90'
Referee: Washington N'Dolo (Liberia)
Mali 4–0 Mauritania
  • Simpara 16'
  • Coulibaly 23', 60'
  • Traoré 29'
 Report
Guinea-Bissau 1–0 Sierra Leone
José 45' Report
Annexe Stade Me. Abdoulaye Wade, Diamniadio, Dakar

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
1 November – Thiès
 
 
 Senegal (p) 0 (4)
 
4 November – Thiès
 
 Guinea-Bissau 0 (3)
 
 Senegal (p) 3 (5)
 
1 November – Thiès
 
 Mali 3 (4)
 
 Mali 3
 
 
 Gambia 2
 
Third place play-off
 
 
4 November – Thiès
 
 
 Guinea-Bissau 0 (5)
 
 
 Gambia (p) 0 (6)

Semi-finals

Winners qualified for 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Senegal 0–0 Guinea-Bissau
Report
Penalties
  • E. Cissé
  • M. Ndiaye
  • M. Cissé
  • E. Ndiaye
  • I. Sow
4–3
  • Dino
  • Biai
  • Edney
  • Eliseu
  • Ismael
Referee: Abdel Kader M'Bareck (Mauritania)
Mali 3–2 Gambia
Simpara 10', 67', 77' Report Leigh 32', 48'
Referee: Younoussa Tawel Camara (Guinea)

Third place play-off

Guinea-Bissau 0–0 Gambia
Report
Penalties
  • José
  • Biai
  • Dino
  • Herminio
  • Dabo
  • Edney
  • Gute
  • Edimilson
  • Leandro
  • Alfucene
5–6
  • Sarr
  • Kanyi
  • Susso
  • Gomez
  • Danso
  • I. Sonko
  • Leigh
  • Mboob
  • Jammeh
  • Daffeh
Annexe Stade Me. Abdoulaye Wade, Diamniadio, Dakar
Referee: Ousmane Diakité (Mali)

Final

Senegal 3–3 Mali
  • E. Ndiaye 48', 63'
  • Mendy 53'
 Report
  • Dembélé 1'
  • Simpara 43'
  • Camara 67'
Penalties
  • E. Cissé
  • M. Ndiaye
  • M. Cissé
  • Dabo
  • I. Sow
5–4
  • Simpara
  • Diarra
  • Fané
  • Traoré
  • Camara
Annexe Stade Me. Abdoulaye Wade, Diamniadio, Dakar
Referee: Abdallah Jammeh (Gambia)

West B Zone

The WAFU-UFOA Zone B qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations were hosted by Ghana with the matches played between 15 and 28 May 2024, the draw was announced on 23 April 2024.[4]

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):[3]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in all group matches;
  3. Goals scored in all group matches;
  4. Drawing of lots.

If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:

  1. Points in matches between the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
  4. 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;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Ghana (H) 2 2 0 0 7 1 +6 6 Semi-finals
2  Ivory Coast 2 1 0 1 2 5 −3 3
3  Benin 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 0
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Ghana 5–1 Ivory Coast
  • Narbi 27', 42'
  • Sarpong 48'
  • Gbafa 53'
  • Mensah 90+1'
 Report Coulibaly 51'
Ivory Coast 1–0 Benin
Diabaté 90+1' Report
Referee: Salisu Basheer (Nigeria)
Benin 0–2 Ghana
Report
  • Mensah 19'
  • Ayamga 21'
Referee: Sadou Ali Brahamou (Niger)

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Nigeria 3 2 1 0 4 0 +4 7 Semi-finals
2  Burkina Faso 3 2 1 0 3 0 +3 7
3  Niger 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3
4  Togo 3 0 0 3 2 8 −6 0
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Burkina Faso 0–0 Nigeria
Report
Togo 2–3 Niger
  • Bassirou 66'
  • Eklou 87'
 Report
  • Player N2 4', 49'
  • Player N9 75'
Togo 0–2 Burkina Faso
Report
  • Tapsoba 59'
  • Fofana 90+3'
Nigeria 1–0 Niger
Adams 32' Report
Niger 0–1 Burkina Faso
Report Diaby 28'
Nigeria 3–0 Togo
  • Adeleke 9', 58'
  • Adams 33'
 Report

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
25 May – Accra
 
 
 Ghana1
 
28 May – Accra
 
 Burkina Faso2
 
 Burkina Faso3
 
25 May – Accra
 
 Ivory Coast1
 
 Nigeria0
 
 
 Ivory Coast1
 
Third place play-off
 
 
28 May – Accra
 
 
 Ghana2
 
 
 Nigeria3

Semi-finals

Winners qualified for 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana 1–2 Burkina Faso
Narbi 27' Report Tapsoba 13', 48'
Referee: Sadou Ali Brahamou (Niger)
Nigeria 0–1 Ivory Coast
Report Coulibaly 54'
Referee: Aklesso Gnama (Togo)

Third place play-off

Ghana 2–3 Nigeria
Gbafa 19', 28' Report
  • Muhammad 8'
  • Adeleke 40', 90+3'
Referee: Hugues Modeste Kokora (Ivory Coast)

Final

Burkina Faso 3–1 Ivory Coast
  • Tapsoba 27', 49'
  • Sawadogo 88'
 Report Diarra 30'
Referee: Salisu Basheer (Nigeria)

Central Zone

All times are local, WAT (UTC+1).

The UNIFFAC qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations were held in Cameroon between 16–22 February 2025.[5] The qualifying tournament draw was held on 6 February 2025. Four UNIFFAC members competed in a single round-robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the final tournament.

Congo was also placed into this group, but they were suspended on 6 February 2025 due to government interference in FECOFOOT operations.[6][7] No announcement of their qualification status was immediately available, but on 16 February 2025, CAF released a reschedule of the qualifiers excluding Congo.[8]

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):[3]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in all group matches;
  3. Goals scored in all group matches;
  4. Drawing of lots.

If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:

  1. Points in matches between the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
  4. 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;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Results

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Cameroon (H) 3 3 0 0 22 1 +21 9 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
2  Central African Republic 3 2 0 1 4 11 −7 6
3  DR Congo 3 1 0 2 5 10 −5 3
4  Gabon 3 0 0 3 2 11 −9 0
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Cameroon 9–0 Central African Republic
Report
DR Congo 3–1 Gabon
Report
Gabon 1–7 Cameroon
Report
Central African Republic 3–2 DR Congo
Report
Central African Republic 1–0 Gabon
Report
Cameroon 6–0 DR Congo
Report

Central-East Zone

Group stage

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):[3]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in all group matches;
  3. Goals scored in all group matches;
  4. Drawing of lots.

If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:

  1. Points in matches between the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
  4. 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;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Uganda (H) 2 1 1 0 6 1 +5 4 Semi-finals
2  Tanzania 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4
3  Kenya 2 0 0 2 0 6 −6 0
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Uganda 1–1 Tanzania
Magala 58' Report Ally 19'
Tanzania 1–0 Kenya
Sagwe 19' Report
Uganda 5–0 Kenya
  • Bogere 17' (pen.), 42', 58'
  • Magala 40'
  • Wanyama 78'
 Report

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Sudan 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 6 Semi-finals
2  Somalia 2 1 0 1 1 3 −2 3
3  Sudan 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2 0
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Somalia 0–3 South Sudan
Report
  • Antacio 38'
  • Jou 45+3'
  • Laku 72'
South Sudan 1–0 Sudan
Laku 33' Report
Somalia 1–0 Sudan
S. Mohamed 90+3' Report

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
24 December – Kampala
 
 
 South Sudan0
 
27 December – Kampala
 
 Tanzania4
 
 Tanzania1
 
24 December – Kampala
 
 Uganda2
 
 Uganda4
 
 
 Somalia1
 
Third place
 
 
27 December – Kampala
 
 
 South Sudan2 (2)
 
 
 Somalia2 (4)

Semi-finals

South Sudan 0–4 Tanzania
Report
  • Mbegu 16'
  • Zamu 32'
  • Josiah 35'
  • Abushiri 52'
Uganda 4–1 Somalia
  • Walisimbi 45'
  • Bogere 58', 90+3', 90+5'
 Report Osman 70'

Third place play-off

South Sudan 2–2 Somalia
 Report
  • Genzi 44' (o.g.)
  • Isaq 52'
Penalties
 2–4

Final

Tanzania 1–2 Uganda
Josiah 11' Report
  • Nkoola 64'
  • Bogere 89'

South Zone

Main article: 2024 COSAFA Under-17 Championship

The COSAFA qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations were held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 5 to 14 December 2024. The draw for the groups took place on 5 September 2024.

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

Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Angola 3 2 1 0 4 2 +2 7 Semi-finals
2  Mozambique 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
3  Lesotho 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
4  Malawi 3 0 2 1 4 5 −1 2
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Zambia 3 3 0 0 14 1 +13 9 Semi-finals
2  Zimbabwe 3 1 1 1 10 10 0 4
3  Namibia 3 1 1 1 6 13 −7 4
4  Eswatini 3 0 0 3 2 8 −6 0
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Africa (H) 3 3 0 0 10 2 +8 9 Semi-finals
2  Botswana 3 1 1 1 3 5 −2 4
3  Comoros 3 0 2 1 1 4 −3 2
4  Mauritius 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3 1
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Knockout stage

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
11 December – Johannesburg
 
 
 Angola2
 
13 December – Johannesburg
 
 Zimbabwe0
 
 Angola1
 
11 December – Johannesburg
 
 Zambia2
 
 Zambia2
 
 
 South Africa1
 

Goalscorers

There have been 173 goals scored in 57 matches, for an average of 3.04 goals per match (as of 20 February 2025).

7 goals

  • Abel Nyirongo

5 goals

  • Asharaf Tapsoba
  • Belal Atya
  • Bakary Simpara
  • El Shaddai Sadomba

4 goals

3 goals

  • Hamza Abdelkarim
  • Mohamed Hamad
  • Francis Gomez
  • Harve Gbafa
  • Joseph Narbi
  • Rethabile Nqoko
  • Ziyad Baha
  • Gabriel Phiri
  • Mapalo Simute
  • Valentine Macheka

2 goals

  • Youcef Boudouab
  • Eliseu
  • Abdelaziz El Zoghbi
  • Kgosi Tshidi
  • Alagie Baba Leigh
  • Mark Kagawa Mensah
  • Youbah Coulibaly
  • Sanad Abdulwahab
  • James Lumbe
  • Soungalo Coulibaly
  • Seydou Dembélé
  • Ismail El Aoud
  • Brayton Paulse
  • Undefined
  • Rapha Adams
  • Mouhamed Dabo
  • El Hadji Yamar Ndiaye
  • Neo Bohloko
  • Kamohelo Maraletse
  • Omphemetse Sekgoto
  • Selwyn Stevens
  • Tadiwa Chakuchichi

1 goal

  • Ahmed Achouri
  • Charaf Eddine Cherfaoui
  • Benaissa Fettouche
  • Densel
  • Jario
  • Dias Luvumbo
  • Omar
  • Kutlo Mananye
  • Abdoulaye Diaby
  • Ibrouahima Fofana
  • Chérif Sawadogo
  • Kaylan Saïd
  • Aviwe Dlamini
  • Menzi Dlamini
  • Bubacarr Susso
  • Theophilus Ayamga
  • Godfred Sarpong
  • José Júnior
  • Adama Diabate
  • Mohammed Diarra
  • Thuto Khetsi
  • Alex Wile
  • Almonder Al-Gamati
  • Anas El Shawish
  • Clifford Chisale
  • Yusufu Nantunga
  • Aboubacar Camara
  • Ibrahim Diakité
  • Mahamadou Traoré
  • Julian Rabaye
  • Aldo Ravina
  • Ilies Belmokhtar
  • Adam Jout
  • Ahmed Mawhoub
  • Abdellah Ouazane
  • Bilal Sokrate
  • Kille Lino
  • Levonor Timbe
  • Andriano Gawab
  • Stephen Kamulu
  • Ronald Kandjou
  • Christiano Useb
  • Undefined
  • Imrana Muhammad
  • Elhadji Cissé
  • Youssou Mané
  • Etienne Mendy
  • El Hadji Sow
  • Alie Kabia
  • Simphiwe Mlondo
  • Sive Pama
  • Emile Witbooi
  • Parkouda Bassirou
  • Joël Tekle Eklou
  • Aziz Chaabene
  • Saifedine Haj Abdallah
  • Amenallah Touati
  • Robert Banda
  • Nkotami Chimwemwe
  • Jonathan Kalimina
  • Nthasilwe Malupande

1 own goal

  • Cassius Pewee (against Gambia)
  • Milko Solunga (against Zambia)
  • Jonathan Kalimina (against Angola)

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "CAF Executive Committee approves 2025 Competition Calendar and TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final Draw Date". 16 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  2. ^ Nlebem, Anthony (7 February 2025). "Golden Eaglets miss out on 2025 U17 AFCON, World Cup qualification". Businessday NG. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "U-17 AFCON Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  4. ^ "Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers". 23 April 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  5. ^ "TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON: UNIFFAC Zone teams enter the final stretch". cafonline.com. 6 February 2025. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Suspension of the Congolese Football Association (FECOFOOT) from 6 February 2025 until further notice" (PDF). FIFA Circular. No. 1922. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  7. ^ "FIFA suspends Congo Republic and Pakistan". Reuters. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  8. ^ "TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON: UNIFFAC Zone teams enter the final stretch". cafonline.com. 16 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
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