The Moroccan under-17 national team is preparing for a demanding qualification campaign as it targets a place at the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations Under-17 tournament, with key encounters against Algeria and Egypt lying ahead.
The Confederation of African Football has confirmed the schedule for the North African Football Union qualifiers, which will take place in Benghazi, Libya, from March 22 to April 5, 2026.
The mini-tournament will feature Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and host nation Libya, all competing for a limited number of qualification spots.
The competition will be played in a mini-league format, with each team required to contest four matches.
Only the top three sides will advance to the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations finals, a pathway that also leads to qualification for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar in 2026.
Morocco will begin their campaign on March 22 with an opening fixture against Tunisia, a crucial first step in shaping the journey of the young Atlas Lions. The challenge then intensifies in the second round, where they face regional rivals Algeria in a high-stakes Maghreb derby.
In the third round, the Moroccan youngsters will be tested by Egypt, one of the continent’s most respected teams at youth level.
That encounter is expected to play a major role in determining the balance of the qualification race, given the fine margins and closely matched sides involved.
According to the tournament format, Morocco will sit out the fourth round before returning to action in the fifth and final match against Libya. Facing the host nation could prove decisive, with final standings and the three qualifying tickets likely to be settled in the closing round.
To achieve their objective, Morocco will need strong results from the outset and maximum concentration across all four matches. Consistency and composure will be vital as they aim to secure qualification and maintain Morocco’s strong presence in African youth football.
