CAF confirms 16 teams for 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the 16 countries that will compete at the 2026 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Morocco from April 25 to May 15, 2026.

The tournament will not only crown the continent’s next youth champions but will also serve as a qualification pathway to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

With the global event expanded to 48 teams, the top 10 finishers at the AFCON finals will book their places at the world stage.

Algeria secured the final qualification slot after edging Egypt 1-0 at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, completing the lineup for the tournament.

The 16 qualified nations are:

Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, host nation Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

CAF’s qualification framework is structured across six regional zones—UNAF, WAFU A, WAFU B, UNIFFAC, CECAFA, and COSAFA—each staging its own qualifying competitions to determine representatives for the finals.