2026 U-17 AFCON draw set for Cairo today

The stage is set for the official draw of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which takes place today at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo.

The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 16:00 GMT.

The draw will determine the group-stage matchups for the continental showpiece, with teams seeded based on their performances over the last three U-17 AFCON tournaments, excluding the 2021 edition.

Recent results carry greater weight in the seeding process, ensuring a more accurate reflection of current team strength.

A total of 16 teams will compete in the tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco from May 13 to June 2.

Beyond the continental crown, there is significant incentive: the top eight teams—those that reach the quarter-finals—will automatically qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Two additional slots will go to the best third-placed teams, meaning Africa will be represented by ten nations at the global tournament.

The seeding pots for the draw have been confirmed as follows:

Pot 1: Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire
Pot 2: South Africa, Cameroon, Angola, Tunisia
Pot 3: Uganda, Egypt, Algeria, Tanzania
Pot 4: Ethiopia, Ghana, DR Congo, Mozambique

The draw will follow a structured format, assigning teams from Pot 4 to positions A4, B4, C4, and D4; Pot 3 to A3, B3, C3, and D3; Pot 2 to A2, B2, C2, and D2; and Pot 1 to B1 and D1.

With anticipation building across the continent, all eyes will be on Cairo as Africa’s brightest young prospects learn their path in the race for U-17 AFCON glory.