2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Last updated
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)
2023
2027
All statistics correct as of 22 February 2025.

The 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification was a men's under-17 football competition that decides the participating teams of the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Contents

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 Ivory Coast, appointed during the General Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 22 October 2024. [1] [2]

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. [3]

Teams

ZoneSpotsTeams entering qualificationDid not enter
North Zone
(UNAF)
3 spots
West A Zone
(WAFU-UFOA A)
3 spots
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

North Zone

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

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 4301139+49 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
2Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco (H)4220104+68
3Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 421176+17
4Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 41125614
5Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 4004414100
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 will be 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 are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13): [4]

  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

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal (H)220052+36 Semi-finals
2Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 210153+23
3Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia 20021650
4Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 00000000Withdrew
Source: WAFU A
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg2–1Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia
  • Dabo Soccerball shade.svg5'
  • E. Sow Soccerball shade.svg7'
Report Wile Soccerball shade.svg90+3'

Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svg1–3Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Gomez Soccerball shade.svg42' Report
Referee: Abdel Kader M'Bareck (Mauritania)

Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svg4–0Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia
Report

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 330060+69 Semi-finals
2Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 31111104
3Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 31021213
4Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 30120551
Source: WAFU A
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Mali  Flag of Mali.svg1–0Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone
Dembélé Soccerball shade.svg8' Report
Mauritania  Flag of Mauritania.svg0–0Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau
Report

Sierra Leone  Flag of Sierra Leone.svg1–0Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania
Kabia Soccerball shade.svg45+1' Report
Referee: Younoussa Tawel Camara (Guinea)
Guinea-Bissau  Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg0–1Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report Diakité Soccerball shade.svg90'
Referee: Washington N'Dolo (Liberia)

Mali  Flag of Mali.svg4–0Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania
Report
Guinea-Bissau  Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg1–0Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone
José Soccerball shade.svg45' Report
Annexe Stade Me. Abdoulaye Wade, Diamniadio, Dakar

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finals Final
 
      
 
1 November – Thiès
 
 
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal (p) 0 (4)
 
4 November – Thiès
 
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 0 (3)
 
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal (p) 3 (5)
 
1 November – Thiès
 
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 3 (4)
 
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 3
 
 
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 2
 
Third place play-off
 
 
4 November – Thiès
 
 
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 0 (5)
 
 
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia (p) 0 (6)

Semi-finals

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

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg0–0Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau
Report
Penalties
4–3
Referee: Abdel Kader M'Bareck (Mauritania)

Mali  Flag of Mali.svg3–2Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
Simpara Soccerball shade.svg10', 67', 77' Report Leigh Soccerball shade.svg32', 48'
Referee: Younoussa Tawel Camara (Guinea)

Third place play-off

Guinea-Bissau  Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg0–0Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
Report
Penalties
5–6
Annexe Stade Me. Abdoulaye Wade, Diamniadio, Dakar
Referee: Ousmane Diakité (Mali)

Final

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg3–3Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report
Penalties
5–4
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. [5]

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 will be 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 are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13): [4]

  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

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana (H)220071+66 Semi-finals
2Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 21012533
3Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 20020330
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg5–1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report Coulibaly Soccerball shade.svg51'

Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg1–0Flag of Benin.svg  Benin
Diabaté Soccerball shade.svg90+1' Report
Referee: Salisu Basheer (Nigeria)

Benin  Flag of Benin.svg0–2Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Report
Referee: Sadou Ali Brahamou (Niger)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 321040+47 Semi-finals
2Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 321030+37
3Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 31023413
4Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 30032860
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg0–0Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Togo  Flag of Togo (3-2).svg2–3Flag of Niger.svg  Niger
Report
  • Player N2 Soccerball shade.svg4', 49'
  • Player N9 Soccerball shade.svg75'

Togo  Flag of Togo (3-2).svg0–2Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Report
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg1–0Flag of Niger.svg  Niger
Adams Soccerball shade.svg32' Report

Niger  Flag of Niger.svg0–1Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Report Diaby Soccerball shade.svg28'
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg3–0Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo
Report

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finals Final
 
      
 
25 May – Accra
 
 
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 1
 
28 May – Accra
 
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 2
 
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 3
 
25 May – Accra
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 1
 
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0
 
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 1
 
Third place play-off
 
 
28 May – Accra
 
 
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2
 
 
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 3

Semi-finals

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

Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg1–2Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Narbi Soccerball shade.svg27' Report Tapsoba Soccerball shade.svg13', 48'
Referee: Sadou Ali Brahamou (Niger)
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg0–1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report Coulibaly Soccerball shade.svg54'
Referee: Aklesso Gnama (Togo)

Third place play-off

Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg2–3Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Gbafa Soccerball shade.svg19', 28' Report
Referee: Hugues Modeste Kokora (Ivory Coast)

Final

Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg3–1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report Diarra Soccerball shade.svg30'
Referee: Salisu Basheer (Nigeria)

Central Zone

The UNIFFAC qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations are planned to be held in Cameroon between 16–22 February 2025. [6] 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. [7] [8] No announcement of their qualification status was immediately available, but on 16 February 2025, CAF released a reschedule of the qualifiers excluding Congo. [9]

Tiebreakers

Teams will be 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 are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13): [4]

  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

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon (H)3300221+219 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
2Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 320141176
3Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 310251053
4Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 300321190
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svg9–0Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic
Report
DR Congo  Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg3–1Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon
Report

Gabon  Flag of Gabon.svg1–7Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Report
Central African Republic  Flag of the Central African Republic.svg3–2Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo
Report

Central African Republic  Flag of the Central African Republic.svg1–0Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon
Report
Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svg6–0Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo
Report

Central-East Zone

Group stage

Tiebreakers

Teams will be 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 are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13): [4]

  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

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda (H)211061+54 Semi-finals
2Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 211021+14
3Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 20020660
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg1–1Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Magala Soccerball shade.svg58' Report Ally Soccerball shade.svg19'

Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svg1–0Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Sagwe Soccerball shade.svg19' Report

Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg5–0Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Report

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 220040+46 Semi-finals
2Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 21011323
3Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 20020220
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Somalia  Flag of Somalia.svg0–3Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan
Report

South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svg1–0Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan
Laku Soccerball shade.svg33' Report

Somalia  Flag of Somalia.svg1–0Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan
S. Mohamed Soccerball shade.svg90+3' Report

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finals Final
 
      
 
24 December – Kampala
 
 
Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 0
 
27 December – Kampala
 
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 4
 
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 1
 
24 December – Kampala
 
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 2
 
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 4
 
 
Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 1
 
Third place
 
 
27 December – Kampala
 
 
Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 2 (2)
 
 
Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 2 (4)

Semi-finals

South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svg0–4Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Report
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg4–1Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia
Report Osman Soccerball shade.svg70'

Third place play-off

South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svg2–2Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia
Report
Penalties
  • Soccerball shade cross.svg
  • Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Soccerball shade cross.svg
  • Soccerball shad check.svg
2–4
  • Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Soccerball shad check.svg

Final

Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svg1–2Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Josiah Soccerball shade.svg11' Report

South Zone

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 is as follows:

Group stage

Group A
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 321042+27 Semi-finals
2Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 31112204
3Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho 31024513
4Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 30214512
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Group B
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 3300141+139 Semi-finals
2Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 3111101004
3Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 311161374
4Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 30032860
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Group C
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa (H)3300102+89 Semi-finals
2Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 31113524
3Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 30211432
4Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 30122531
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Knockout stage

 
Semi-finals Final
 
      
 
11 December – Johannesburg
 
 
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 2
 
13 December – Johannesburg
 
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 0
 
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 1
 
11 December – Johannesburg
 
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 2
 
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 2
 
 
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1
 

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

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

See also

Notes

    References

    1. "CAF Executive Committee announces dates of CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations ("AFCON") Morocco 2025 and CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024". 21 June 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
    2. "CAF Confirms Date for the 46th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia". 20 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
    3. Nlebem, Anthony (7 February 2025). "Golden Eaglets miss out on 2025 U17 AFCON, World Cup qualification". Businessday NG. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
    4. 1 2 3 4 "U-17 AFCON Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 21 February 2025.
    5. "Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers". 23 April 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
    6. "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.
    7. "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.
    8. "FIFA suspends Congo Republic and Pakistan". Reuters. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
    9. "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.