2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations

Last updated
2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
  • كأس الأمم الأفريقية تحت 17 سنة 2025
  • Coupe d'Afrique des nations de football des moins de 17 ans 2025
2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations logo.png
Tournament details
Host countryMorocco
Dates30 March – 19 April
Teams16 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)4 (in 4 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Morocco.svg  Morocco (1st title)
Runners-upFlag of Mali.svg  Mali
Third placeFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Fourth placeFlag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Tournament statistics
Matches played34
Goals scored100 (2.94 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Asharaf Tapsoba
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Alynho Haïdara
(7 goals each)
Best player(s) Flag of Morocco.svg Abdellah Ouazane
Best goalkeeper Flag of Morocco.svg Chouaib Bellaarouch
Fair play awardFlag of Mali.svg  Mali
2023
2026

The 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations , known as the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship purposes or 2025 U17 AFCON for short, was the 15th edition (20th if editions without hosts are included) of the biennial African youth football tournament organized by Confederation of African Football (CAF) for players aged 17 and below.

Contents

Morocco was chosen as the host of this edition on 16 December 2024 at the annual CAF Executive Committee meeting along the 2024 CAF Awards ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco where CAF appointed the country as host. [1] which it organised from 30 March to 19 April. The top 10 teams qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar as the CAF representatives.

It was the first U-17 Africa Cup of Nations to feature 16 teams.

Senegal were the defending champions but were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

Qualification

Player eligibility

Players born on 1 January 2008 or later were eligible to participate in this tournament edition.

Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the tournament.

TeamZoneDate of qualificationAppearanceLast appearancePrevious best performance
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt North Zone 23 November 20244th 2011 Champions (1997)
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco (hosts)23 November 20244th 2023 Runners-up (2023)
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 5 February 20254th 2013 Third place (2013)
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali West A Zone 1 November 202410th 2023 Champions (2015, 2017)
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 1 November 20244th 2023 Champions (2023)
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 5 February 20255th 2011 Champions (2005, 2009)
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso West B Zone 25 May 20248th 2023 Champions (2011)
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 25 May 20246th 2015 Champions (2013)
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Central Zone 22 February 20259th 2023 Champions (2003, 2019)
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 22 February 20251stNoneDebut
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania Central-East Zone 24 December 20243rd 2019 Group stage (2017, 2019)
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 24 December 20242nd 2019 Group stage (2019)
Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 5 February 20252nd 2023 Group stage (2023)
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola South Zone 11 December 20245th 2019 Third place (2019)
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 11 December 20243rd 2023 Group stage (2015, 2023)
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 5 February 20255th 2023 Runners-up (2015)

Match officials

Venues

The host country for the final tournament is Morocco, appointed during the General Assembly held in Marrakech, Morocco on 16 December 2024. [2]

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation choose four venues in four cities across the host nation Morocco: Casablanca, El Jadida, Mohammedia and Berrechid. [3]

Casablanca El Jadida Mohammedia Berrechid
Larbi Zaouli Stadium Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium El Bachir Stadium Berrechid Municipal Stadium
Capacity: 18,600Capacity: 15,000Capacity: 10,000Capacity: 5,000
Larbi Zaouli Stadium 2024.jpg FAR Rabat v TP Mazembe - El Abdi Stadium.jpg Stade El Bachir, Mohammedia.jpg Stade Municipal Berrechid.jpg

Squads

The 16 national teams involved in the tournament were required to register a squad of 21 players with an option of up to 5 more additional players, including three goalkeepers. Only players born on or after 1 January 2008 are eligible to be registered in these squads.

Draw

The draw procedure was announced on 10 February 2025, [4] with the draw to occur on 13 February 2025 in Cairo, Egypt. The 16 teams were drawn into four groups of four teams. [5] Teams are seeded according to their performance in the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. Hosts Morocco were automatically assigned to Position A1 in the draw. Previous edition winners Senegal were assigned to Position C1 with Burkina Faso and Mali assigned to positions B1 and D1 respectively. The rest of the field were placed in Pot 1 to be drawn into the remaining positions.

SeededPot 1

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 tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings:

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, if two teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are applied exclusively to these two teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco (H)321080+87 Knockout stage and
2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 321062+47
3Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 31024733 FIFA U-17 World Cup play-off
4Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 300311090
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg5–0Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Report
El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia
Referee: Brahamou Sadou Ali (Niger)
Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svg1–4Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Report

Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg3–0Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Report
El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia
Referee: Lominson Todihajaniaina (Madagascar)
Zambia  Flag of Zambia.svg0–0Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Report
El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia
Referee: Vincent Kabore (Burkina Faso)

Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg3–0Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Report
El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia
Referee: Brighton Chimene (Zimbabwe)
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg1–2Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Report
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Abdulwahid Huraywidah (Libya)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 330062+49 Knockout stage and
2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 31114514
3Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 31026713 FIFA U-17 World Cup play-off
4Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 30122421
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg2–1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Tapsoba Soccerball shade.svg19', 41' Report Mimbang Soccerball shade.svg75'
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Hamza El Fareq (Morocco)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg4–3Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Report
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Leonidas da Graça (Cape Verde)

Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svg0–0Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Report
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Brahamou Sadou Ali (Niger)
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svg1–2Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Ateya Soccerball shade.svg78' Report
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Brighton Chimene (Zimbabwe)

Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg2–0Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Report
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Aline Umutoni (Rwanda)
Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svg1–2Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Zibi Soccerball shade.svg33' (pen.) Report

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 321051+47 Knockout stage and
2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 321030+37
3Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 310264+23 FIFA U-17 World Cup play-off
4Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 300311090
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg1–0Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
I. Sow Soccerball shade.svg7' Report
Somalia  Flag of Somalia.svg0–3Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Report
Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida
Referee: Reginald Amoah (Ghana)

Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svg5–1Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia
Report
Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida
Referee: Cregue Moukagni (Gabon)
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svg0–0Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Report

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg2–0Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia
Report
Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svg1–2Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Report
Berrechid Municipal Stadium, Berrechid
Referee: Lominson Josianno Elivas Todihajaniaina (Madagascar)

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 3210103+77 Knockout stage and
2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 320165+16
3Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 311173+44 FIFA U-17 World Cup play-off
4Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 3003214120
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Mali  Flag of Mali.svg2–1Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
Report
Berrechid Municipal Stadium, Berrechid
Referee: Abdulwahid Huraywidah (Libya)
Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg6–1Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic
Report Otto Soccerball shade.svg45+4'
Berrechid Municipal Stadium, Berrechid
Referee: Aline Umutoni (Rwanda)

Angola  Flag of Angola.svg0–0Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report
Central African Republic  Flag of the Central African Republic.svg0–2Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report
Berrechid Municipal Stadium, Berrechid
Referee: Lucky Kasalirwe (Uganda)

Mali  Flag of Mali.svg2–4Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report
Angola  Flag of Angola.svg6–1Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic
Report
Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida
Referee: Hamza El Fareq (Morocco)

FIFA U-17 World Cup play-off

Winners qualified for 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg2–1Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
Bogere Soccerball shade.svg13', 33' Report Kanyi Soccerball shade.svg1'
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svg2–1Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
Report Lourenço Soccerball shade.svg83'

Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, penalty shoot-outs are used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 75).

Bracket

 
Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
 
          
 
10 April – Mohammedia
 
 
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 3
 
15 April – Mohammedia
 
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1
 
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco (p)0 (4)
 
11 April – Berrechid
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 0 (3)
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast (p)0 (5)
 
19 April – Mohammedia
 
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 0 (3)
 
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco (p)0 (4)
 
10 April – Casablanca
 
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 0 (2)
 
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 6
 
15 April – Casablanca
 
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 1
 
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 0
 
11 April – El Jadida
 
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 2 Third place match
 
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 1 (9)
 
18 April – Casablanca
 
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali (p)1 (10)
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast (p)1 (4)
 
 
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 1 (1)
 

Quarter-finals

Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg6–1Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Report Nyirongo Soccerball shade.svg35'
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Hamza El Fareq (Morocco)
Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg3–1Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Report Bohloko Soccerball shade.svg54'
El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia
Referee: Brahamou Sadou Ali (Niger)

Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg0–0Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Report
Penalties
5–3
Berrechid Municipal Stadium, Berrechid
Referee: Abdulwahid Huraywidah (Libya)

Semi-finals

Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg0–2Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Abdulwahid Huraywidah (Libya)

Third place match

Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg1–1Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Report
Penalties
4–1
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Referee: Lominson Josianno Elivas Todihajaniaina (Madagascar)

Final

Tournament rankings

Pos.TeamPldWDLPtsGFGAGD
1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 633012111+10
2Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 63211196+3
3Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 624010114+7
4Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 641113136+7
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
5Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 4220862+4
6Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 4220830+3
7Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 4112458−3
8Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 4211778−1
Eliminated in the group stage
9Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 3111473+4
10Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 3102364+2
11Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 3102367−1
12Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 3102347−3
13Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 3012124−2
14Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 30030110−9
15Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 30030110−9
16Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 30030214−12

Goalscorers

There were 100 goals scored in 34 matches, for an average of 2.94 goals per match.

7 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:

Golden Boot [7] Most Valuable Player [7] Best Goalkeeper [7] Coach of the Tournament [7] Fair Play award [7]
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Asharaf Tapsoba

Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Alynho Haïdara

Flag of Morocco.svg Abdellah Ouazane Flag of Morocco.svg Chouaib Bellaarouch Flag of Morocco.svg Nabil Baha Flag of Mali.svg  Mali

Qualified teams for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup

The following teams from CAF qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

TeamQualified onPrevious appearances in FIFA U-17 World Cup 1
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 3 April 20255 (1999, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2023)
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 4 April 20256 (1997, 1999, 2001, 2015, 2017, 2023)
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 6 April 20252 (2013, 2023)
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1 (2015)
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 0 (debut)
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 7 April 20254 (1987, 2005, 2011, 2013)
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 2 (2019, 2023)
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 3 (1993, 2007, 2013)
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 12 April 20252 (1987, 1997 )
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 0 (debut)

1Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Notes

  1. The match was originally scheduled to kick-off at 20:00, but was rescheduled to 15:00. [6]

See also

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. "CAF Announces Key Dates For 2025". iDiski Times. 16 December 2024.
  3. "TotalEnergies, U17 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS, MOROCCO 2025 Fixtures" (PDF). frmf.ma. Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
  4. "Final Draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 to take place on 13 February at CAF headquarters in Cairo". CAFonline.com. Confederation of African Football. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  5. "Uganda, Tanzania placed in Group A for U-17 AFCON". CECAFAonline.com. CECAFA. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  6. "TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON Final between Morocco and Mali to kick off at 15:00 on Saturday, 19 April". Confederation of African Football . 17 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ouazane named best player as Morocco sweep awards after historic triumph over Mali". CAFOnline.com . 19 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.