Mali awarded 2026 WAFU A youth tournament hosting rights

Mali will stage the 2026 WAFU Zone A Under-20 Championship after the regional body confirmed the country as host for the October tournament.

The West African Football Union – Zone A released its competition calendar for 2026, naming Mali as the venue for the boys’ U20 competition, scheduled to run from 6 to 25 October 2026.

The tournament serves as the qualifying event for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision means Mali will again welcome several West African youth national teams after previously staging a U17 competition.

Organisers expect nine participating countries: Gambia, Guinea, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Senegal and the hosts.

The competition forms part of the regional pathway toward continental qualification, with national associations using the event to determine which teams progress to the next stage of youth football in Africa.

Officials say the country’s prior experience in hosting youth tournaments influenced the selection.

Preparations will now focus on logistics and organisation ahead of the October kick-off, as the region’s top prospects prepare to compete over a three-week period.

The 20-day schedule allows for group matches followed by knockout rounds, culminating in the final later in the month.

By hosting the competition, Mali assumes responsibility for coordinating venues, accommodation and match operations for all visiting delegations.

The announcement comes months before participating federations begin squad planning, with teams expected to assemble their best under-20 players for the zonal qualifiers.