The 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations will bring together the best young football talents from across Africa as 16 national teams compete for continental glory in Morocco. Officially known as the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026, the tournament will run from May 13 to June 2, 2026, across four host cities and venues in Morocco.
This edition is especially important because the top 10 teams from the competition will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. Morocco, the defending champions and tournament hosts, will look to continue their dominance after lifting the title in the previous edition.
U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 Overview
| Tournament | 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations |
|---|---|
| Host Country | Morocco |
| Dates | 13 May – 2 June 2026 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Venues | 4 |
| Host Cities | 4 |
| Defending Champions | Morocco |
| FIFA U-17 World Cup Spots | Top 10 Teams |
CAF officially selected Morocco as the host nation during the CAF Executive Committee meeting held in Marrakesh in December 2024.
U-17 AFCON 2026 Groups
Group A
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
Group B
- Ivory Coast
- Cameroon
- Uganda
- DR Congo
Group C
- Mali
- Angola
- Tanzania
- Mozambique
Group D
- Senegal
- South Africa
- Algeria
- Ghana
U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 Schedule and Fixtures
Fixtures – May 13, 2026
| Match |
|---|
| Egypt vs Ethiopia |
| Morocco vs Tunisia |
| Ivory Coast vs Cameroon |
| Uganda vs DR Congo |
The opening day will feature a highly anticipated North African derby between hosts Morocco and Tunisia.
Fixtures – May 14, 2026
| Match |
|---|
| Mali vs Angola |
| Tanzania vs Mozambique |
| Senegal vs South Africa |
| Algeria vs Ghana |
Fixtures – May 16, 2026
| Match |
|---|
| Tunisia vs Egypt |
| Ethiopia vs Morocco |
| Cameroon vs Uganda |
| DR Congo vs Ivory Coast |
Fixtures – May 17, 2026
| Match |
|---|
| Angola vs Tanzania |
| Mozambique vs Mali |
| South Africa vs Algeria |
| Ghana vs Senegal |
Fixtures – May 19, 2026
| Match |
|---|
| Tunisia vs Ethiopia |
| Morocco vs Egypt |
| Ivory Coast vs Uganda |
| Cameroon vs DR Congo |
Fixtures – May 20, 2026
| Match |
|---|
| Mali vs Tanzania |
| Angola vs Mozambique |
| Senegal vs Algeria |
| South Africa vs Ghana |
Teams to Watch at U-17 AFCON 2026
Morocco enters the tournament as the defending champion and one of the strongest teams in African youth football. Playing at home could give them a major advantage during the group stage and knockout rounds.
Senegal, Ghana, Mali, and Ivory Coast are also expected to be strong contenders due to their impressive youth development systems and recent performances in CAF competitions.
Fans will also closely follow emerging talents from Egypt, Tunisia, Cameroon, and South Africa as scouts from clubs around the world monitor the tournament for future stars.
Qualification Stakes for the FIFA U-17 World Cup
The 2026 edition carries huge significance because the top 10 teams will secure qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. Teams finishing at the top of their groups will directly qualify for both the knockout stage and the World Cup, while third-placed teams may enter additional qualification play-offs.
With talented young players, exciting rivalries, and World Cup qualification on the line, the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 promises to be one of the most exciting youth football tournaments of the year.