Ten African nations will fly the continent’s flag at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, marking a milestone moment for youth football in Africa as the tournament expands to 48 teams.
South Africa, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia have secured their spots in the prestigious global competition, scheduled to run from 3 to 27 November.
Their qualification reflects both the growing depth of talent across African football and the increasing competitiveness of its youth programmes.
The enlarged format of the tournament offers broader representation and a valuable platform for emerging stars to showcase their skills on a world stage.
For Africa, the presence of ten nations is a testament to decades of investment in grassroots development and the growing maturity of football academies across the continent.
Morocco, the reigning African U-17 champions, enter the tournament with high expectations.
Their recent success at continental level has positioned them among the favourites to make a deep run.
Mali and Senegal, traditionally strong at youth level, will also be closely watched, given their history of producing technically gifted and tactically astute players.
Egypt and Tunisia, two North African powerhouses, add experience and strategic discipline to the African contingent, while Uganda and Zambia bring youthful exuberance and a growing pedigree in age-group competitions.
South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso round out the list with ambitions of their own, eager to make an impression against the world’s best.
All matches will be held in Doha across venues within the Aspire Academy, with the final set to take place at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium.
The setting is expected to offer ideal conditions for competitive, high-tempo football, providing the young athletes with a professional-grade environment.
“This significant presence testifies to the vitality and potential of youth football in Africa,” noted a statement following the confirmation of the qualifiers—highlighting the pride and promise that comes with such representation.
As the countdown to November begins, the eyes of the footballing world will turn to Qatar.
For Africa, the stage is set not just to compete, but to contend—and perhaps to inspire a new generation of stars ready to follow in the footsteps of their heroes.
