CAF pushes back U17 continental tournament without explanation

The Confederation of African Football has confirmed the postponement of the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, rescheduling the tournament just weeks before its original start date.

In a statement released on its official website, the governing body announced that the competition will now take place from May 13 to June 2, replacing the previously planned dates of April 25 to May 13.

The tournament remains a key event on the continental calendar, serving as a qualification pathway for the Under-17 World Cup set to be held in Qatar later this year.

The decision represents a significant adjustment for participating teams, who had already been preparing for the earlier schedule.

Despite the change, no official explanation has been provided by CAF regarding the reasons behind the postponement, leaving uncertainty around the circumstances that led to the delay.

The development comes shortly after the draw for the tournament was conducted at CAF headquarters in Cairo.

The ceremony outlined the group-stage match-ups for the competition, which is expected to bring together some of the most promising young talents across the continent.

As hosts, Morocco have been placed in Group A, where they are set to face Egypt, Ethiopia and Tunisia.

The composition of the group points to a competitive opening phase, with several established youth football nations drawn together.

The revised schedule means teams will now have additional time to prepare, although it also introduces changes to existing plans and timelines.

For players and coaching staff, the tournament remains a crucial opportunity to showcase their abilities on a continental stage while competing for qualification to the global event in Qatar.

The postponement, announced relatively close to the initial kick-off date, adds another layer of complexity to the organisation of the competition.

Nevertheless, CAF has maintained that Morocco will still host the tournament, with all attention now shifting to the new dates in May and June.

With the draw already completed and preparations ongoing, participating nations must now adjust quickly to the updated schedule as anticipation builds for one of Africa’s key youth competitions.