2026 African U-20 Women's World Cup qualification

Last updated
2026 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament
Tournament details
Dates9 May 2025 – 10 May 2026
Teams38
Tournament statistics
Matches played27
Goals scored79 (2.93 per match)
Top scorer(s)
← 2024
2028 →
All statistics correct as of 22 September 2025.

The 2026 African U-20 Women's World Cup qualification is the 13th edition of the African U-20 Women's World Cup qualification, the biennial international youth football competition organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to determine which women's under-20 national teams from Africa qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Players born on or after 1 January 2006 are eligible to compete in the tournament.

Contents

Four teams qualified from this tournament for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland as the CAF representatives.

Draw

The draw was held on 12 December 2024 at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. [1] [2]

Entrants

A total of 38 (out of 54) CAF member associations registered teams for the competition. The teams were seeded based on their performance in the previous qualifying campaign. The four lowest-ranked teams, along with eight associations that did not participate in the previous edition, entered the first round, which featured six ties. The winners of these ties advanced to the second round.

Qualification rankings
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsRound reached
1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 6600212+1918 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
2Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 6510176+1116
3Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 6510112+916
4Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 6411122+1013
5Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 6411124+813 Fourth round
6Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 6321286+2211
7Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 622258−38
8Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi 612357−25
9Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 4211143+117 Third round
10Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 421192+77
11Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 421168−27
12Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 4202127+56
13Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 4202105+56
14Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 420278−16
15Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 41215505
16Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 410328−63
17Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 21012203 Second round
18Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 20202202
19Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 20202202
20Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 201125−31
21Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 201115−41
22Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 201102−21
23Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 200215−40
24Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 200216−50
25Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 200206−60
26Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 200208−80
27Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 2002110−90
28Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 2002010−100
29Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti 2002012−120
30Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe 2002018−180
31Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 200206−60Forfeited the tie
31Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 200206−60
33Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 200216−50 First round
34Flag of Chad.svg  Chad 200206−60Forfeited the tie
34Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 200206−60
Source: CAF

Draw pots

The teams were seeded into pots based on geographical distribution, with UNAF, UNIFFAC, and WAFU placed in one pot, and CECAFA and COSAFA in the other. Ties were drawn between teams from the same pot to minimize travel costs.

First round
Pot 1Pot 2
Second round
Pot 1
(CECAFA and COSAFA)		Pot 2
(UNAF, UNIFFAC and WAFU)

Did not enter

The following associations have previously fielded or currently field a women's under-20 team but chose not to participate:

The following associations have never fielded a women's under-20 team and did not participate:

Format

Qualification ties were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still tied, the penalty shoot-out (no extra time) would be used to determine the winner. [3]

Schedule

RoundLegDate
First roundFirst leg9–11 May 2025
Second leg16–18 May 2025
Second roundFirst leg19–21 September 2025
Second leg26–28 September 2025
Third roundFirst leg6–8 February 2026
Second leg12–14 February 2026
Fourth roundFirst leg1–3 May 2026
Second leg8–10 May 2026

Bracket

The four winners of the fourth round would qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Second round Third round Fourth round
            
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 0
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 9
 
 
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 2
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 0
 
 
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 1
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 1
 
 
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 4
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 0
Second round Third round Fourth round
            
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 0
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2
 
 
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 0
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 5
 
 
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 3 2 5
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 0 0 0
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
 
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi 1
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 2
Second round Third round Fourth round
            
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 3
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 1
 
 
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 1
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 1
 
 
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 1
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0
 
 
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 5
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 1
Second round Third round Fourth round
            
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 0
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 1
 
 
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 2
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 0
 
 
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau — — w/o
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo — —
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau
 
Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi

First round

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Gabon  Flag of Gabon.svg w/o [b] Flag of Niger.svg  Niger — —
Togo  Flag of Togo (3-2).svg1–2Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 1–1 0–1
Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svg0–6Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 0–1 0–5
Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg2–1Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 2–1 0–0
South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svg13–0Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti 5–0 8–0
Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svg4–2Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 3–1 1–1
Togo  Flag of Togo (3-2).svg1–1Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Aawi Soccerball shade.svg45' Report Zerelli Soccerball shade.svg31'
Stade de Kégué , Lomé
Referee: Suavis Iratunga (Burundi)
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svg1–0Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo
Ajroud Soccerball shade.svg12' Report
Taieb Mhiri Stadium , Sfax
Referee: Rachel Zihindula  [ fr ] (DR Congo)

Tunisia won 2–1 on aggregate. [5]

Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svg0–1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report Bah Soccerball shade.svg65'
Independence Stadium , Bakau
Referee: Eness Gumbo (Malawi)
Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg5–0Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
Report
Alassane Ouattara Stadium , Abidjan
Referee: Sabah Sadir (Morocco)

Ivory Coast won 6–0 on aggregate. [6]

Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg2–1Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe
Report
Kigali Pelé Stadium , Kigali
Referee: Patience Madu Ndidi (Nigeria)
Zimbabwe  Flag of Zimbabwe.svg0–0Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda
Report
Kigali Pelé Stadium , Kigali (Rwanda)
Referee: Innocentia Ntangti (Cameroon)

Rwanda won 2–1 on aggregate. [7]

South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svg5–0Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti
Report
Juba Stadium , Juba
Referee: Sylvina Garnett (Liberia)
Djibouti  Flag of Djibouti.svg0–8Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan
Report
Juba Stadium , Juba (South Sudan)
Referee: Seonyatseng Tshephe (Botswana)

South Sudan won 13–0 on aggregate. [8]

Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svg3–1Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic
Report
Bingu National Stadium , Lilongwe
Referee: Tatu Malogo (Tanzania)
Central African Republic  Flag of the Central African Republic.svg1–1Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Daoud Soccerball shade.svg11' Report Chinyamula Soccerball shade.svg47'
Japoma Stadium , Douala (Cameroon)

Malawi won 4–2 on aggregate. [9]

Second round

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Niger  Flag of Niger.svgFlag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 0–9 27 Sept
Botswana  Flag of Botswana.svgFlag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 2–0 27 Sept
Ethiopia  Flag of Ethiopia.svgFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 1–1 28 Sept
Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svgFlag of Angola.svg  Angola 4–0 27 Sept
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svgFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 0–2 28 Sept
Eswatini  Flag of Eswatini.svgFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 0–5 27 Sept
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg5–0Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 3–0 2–0
Burundi  Flag of Burundi.svgFlag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 1–2 27 Sept
Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svgFlag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 3–1 28 Sept
Mali  Flag of Mali.svgFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 1–1 28 Sept
Equatorial Guinea  Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svgFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 1–0 26 Sept
Benin  Flag of Benin.svgFlag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 5–1 26 Sept
Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svgFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0–1 27 Sept
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svgFlag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 2–0 27 Sept
Guinea-Bissau  Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg w/o Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo — —
South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svgFlag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 0–2 26 Sept
Niger  Flag of Niger.svg0–9Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Report
Stade Général Seyni Kountché , Niamey
Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)
Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svgvFlag of Niger.svg  Niger
Report
Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium , Yaoundé
Botswana  Flag of Botswana.svg2–0Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique
Report
Lobatse Sports Complex , Lobatse
Referee: Khadmallah Elshayeb (Sudan)
Mozambique  Flag of Mozambique.svgvFlag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Report
Campo ABB Stadium , Matola
Referee: Laeticia Kenga (Central African Rep.)
Ethiopia  Flag of Ethiopia.svg1–1Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Report
Abebe Bikila Stadium , Addis Ababa
Referee: Vistoria Shangula (Namibia)
Kenya  Flag of Kenya.svgvFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
Report
Ulinzi Sports Complex , Nairobi
Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svg4–0Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
Report
Azam Complex Stadium , Dar es Salaam
Angola  Flag of Angola.svgvFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Report
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svg0–2Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Report Attobrah Soccerball shade.svg4', 66'
Taieb Mhiri Stadium , Sfax
Referee: Aida Sy (Senegal)
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svgvFlag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Report
Accra Sports Stadium , Accra
Eswatini  Flag of Eswatini.svg0–5Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Report
Somhlolo National Stadium , Lobamba
Referee: Sisay Raya (Ethiopia)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svgvFlag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini
Report
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg3–0Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
Report
Referee: Rachel Zihindula  [ fr ] (DR Congo)
Namibia  Flag of Namibia.svg0–2Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Report
Referee: Yemisi Akintoye  [ pcm ] (Nigeria)

Uganda won 5–0 on aggregate. [10]

Burundi  Flag of Burundi.svg1–2Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Bizimana Soccerball shade.svg63' Report
Zambia  Flag of Zambia.svgvFlag of Burundi.svg  Burundi
Report
Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg3–1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Report
Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svgvFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report
Mali  Flag of Mali.svg1–1Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo
Diabaté Soccerball shade.svg30' Report Mukubayi Soccerball shade.svg66'
DR Congo  Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svgvFlag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report
Equatorial Guinea  Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg1–0Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Shalma Midje Soccerball shade.svg9' Report
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svgvFlag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea
Report
Benin  Flag of Benin.svg5–1Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea
Report
Guinea  Flag of Guinea.svgvFlag of Benin.svg  Benin
Report
Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg0–1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Report (NFF) 		Olabiyi Soccerball shade.svg70'
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svgvFlag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda
Report
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg2–0Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Report
Algeria  Flag of Algeria.svgvFlag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Report
Guinea-Bissau  Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svgCancelledFlag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo
Report
Congo  Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svgCancelledFlag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau
Report

Guinea-Bissau won on walkover and advanced to the third round after Congo withdrew prior to the first leg without giving any clarification on the reason.

South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svg0–2Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Report
Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svgvFlag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan
Report
Juba Stadium , Juba (South Sudan)

Third round

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Niger  Flag of Niger.svg or Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svgFlag of Botswana.svg  Botswana or Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 6–8 Feb 26' 12–14 Feb 26'
Ethiopia  Flag of Ethiopia.svg or Kenya  Flag of Kenya.svgFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania or Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 6–8 Feb 26' 12–14 Feb 26'
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svg or Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svgFlag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini or Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 6–8 Feb 26' 12–14 Feb 26'
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svgFlag of Burundi.svg  Burundi or Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 6–8 Feb 26' 12–14 Feb 26'
Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg or Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svgFlag of Mali.svg  Mali or Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 6–8 Feb 26' 12–14 Feb 26'
Equatorial Guinea  Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg or Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svgFlag of Benin.svg  Benin or Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 6–8 Feb 26' 12–14 Feb 26'
Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg or Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svgFlag of Senegal.svg  Senegal or Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 6–8 Feb 26' 12–14 Feb 26'
Guinea-Bissau  Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svgFlag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan or Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 6–8 Feb 26' 12–14 Feb 26'

Qualified teams for FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

The following four teams from CAF qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland.

TeamQualified onPrevious appearances in FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 1
1Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Goalscorers

There have been 79 goals scored in 27 matches, for an average of 2.93 goals per match (as of 22 September 2025).

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Notes

  1. 1 2 The country previously registered for the African qualifiers in this category but has not yet played an international match.
  2. ↑ Niger won on a walkover and advanced to the second round after FEGAFOOT withdrew its women's under-20 team without giving any clarification on the reason. [4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "CAF to host Draw for African Qualifiers for FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Cairo on Thursday". Cafonline.com. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  2. ↑ "CAF maps out road to Poland 2026: U-20 Women's World Cup African Qualifiers Draw completed". Cafonline.com. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  3. ↑ "Regulations of the Women Africa Cup of Nations" (PDF). CAF.
  4. ↑ Nounamo, Jean-Claude (11 May 2025). "Women's Football – U20 CAN Qualifiers: Gabon silently forfeits against Niger!". gabonallsport.com (in French). Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "U20 Women's World Cup: Tunisia advances to the second round after their win over Togo". lapresse.tn (in French). 18 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  6. ↑ Yah, Chamade (18 May 2025). "World Cup Qualifiers: Women's U20 – Second Round: Côte d'Ivoire will play against Morocco". sport-ivoire.ci (in French). Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  7. ↑ Kamasa, Peter (14 May 2025). "Rwanda see off Zimbabwe in U20 Women's World Cup qualifiers". newtimes.co.rw. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  8. ↑ Michael Daniel (16 May 2025). "South Sudan's U-20 starlets thrashed Djibouti counterparts 8–0 in African world cup qualifiers return leg". eyeradio.org. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  9. ↑ Mabuka, Dennis (19 May 2025). "Malawi advance to second round of FIFA U20 Women's qualifiers". africatopsports.com. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  10. ↑ Muziransa, Makhtum (23 September 2025). "Queen Cranes advance to penultimate qualification round". monitor.co.ug. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
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