CAF conducts draw for 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) held the draw for the 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, setting the stage for the road to Morocco, where the tournament will be held from October 17 to November 8, 2025. As the host nation, Morocco is automatically qualified, while 27 other African teams will compete for the remaining spots.

The first-round draw, which will feature some exciting matchups, is set to kick off in January 2025.

Algeria will face Tunisia in what promises to be a competitive North African derby, while Ivory Coast will take on Senegal in another highly anticipated clash.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will meet Niger, and Cameroon will square off against Egypt in the opening round.

These first-leg fixtures will be played between January 10 and 12, 2025, with the return matches scheduled for January 17 to 19, 2025.

The winners from these encounters will progress to the next stage, joining the four teams exempt from the first round: Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, and Burundi.

Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia all participated in the 2024 U17 Women’s World Cup, with Nigeria reaching the quarter-finals, while Burundi makes its return to the competition after a successful campaign in the earlier rounds.

The second round of the qualifiers is set for March 7 to 16, 2025, followed by the third and final round from April 18 to 25, 2025.

This final stage will determine the four African teams that will represent the continent at the U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, alongside the host nation.

It is worth noting that FIFA has announced a significant change in the structure of the tournament, with the U17 Women’s World Cup set to take place annually starting in 2025.

The first five editions of the tournament will be hosted by Morocco, cementing the country’s role as a key player in the development of women’s football on the continent.