CAF Releases 2026 U-17 AFCON Group Stage Draw In Morocco

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the group stage draw for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to take place in Morocco from 13 May to 2 June. According to Ireporter Online, the draw was conducted at CAF’s headquarters in Cairo on Wednesday and subsequently published on the organisation’s official website.

Hosts Morocco will lead Group A in a high-stakes North African clash featuring Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, promising a competitive opening round.

Group B is spearheaded by former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, who will compete alongside Uganda and tournament debutants DR Congo. In Group C, Mali—winners in 2015 and 2017 and runners-up last year—will face Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Defending champions Senegal headline Group D, where they will contend with South Africa, Algeria, and Ghana.

The eight quarter-finalists will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, while the four third-placed teams will contest play-offs for the remaining two African slots, bringing the continent’s representation to ten nations.

Nigeria will miss the tournament for a second consecutive edition, after the Golden Eaglets were defeated 2-0 by Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, ending their hopes of reaching the finals.