Morocco and Algeria meet in UNAF U17 opener with AFCON places at stake

Morocco and Algeria begin the UNAF U17 tournament in Sousse on Tuesday, with both sides aiming to make an early statement in a shortened competition offering qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The two North African neighbours face each other in their opening match, leaving no room for a settling-in period as they compete for three valuable points. The tournament has been reduced to three matchdays following Libya’s withdrawal.

The match will take place at Sousse Olympic Stadium in Tunisia on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. Kick-off is at 14:00 local time in Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and France.

The other fixture on the opening day will see Tunisia play Egypt at the same venue, beginning at 17:00.

No television broadcaster had officially confirmed coverage of Morocco v Algeria at the time of publication. Arryadia showed the previous meeting between the two national teams in March but has yet to announce whether it will broadcast this fixture. Algerian television has also made no confirmation.

The most likely option is the UNAF official YouTube channel. The North African governing body regularly streams its youth competitions for free on the platform, including the previous U17 tournament and recent UNAF U20 qualifiers.

Supporters have therefore been advised to monitor UNAF’s official YouTube channel and social media accounts before kick-off. No broadcast on beIN Sports has been announced.

Young squads prepare for separate challenges

The fixture has an unusual feature, with both countries largely represented by players from the U16 age group. Their U17 teams are preparing at the same time for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which begins in Qatar on 19 November.

Algeria have placed this younger generation under the direction of Karim Ziani. The former Algeria midfielder is continuing his development work with a squad that includes Ryles Trouba, the young Le Havre player who has previously represented France U16.

The Algeria U17 team managed by Amine Ghimouz remains focused on the World Cup.

Morocco have adopted a similar approach. Nabil Baha is in charge of the Lion Cubs competing in Sousse, while Ahmed Kantari prepares the senior generation for the global tournament. The arrangement gives both federations an opportunity to provide international experience to players likely to form their future U17 squads.

Morocco will start with a psychological advantage after beating Algeria 3-0 in the UNAF tournament held in Libya in March. The Lion Cubs went on to finish that competition with four wins from four matches.

The schedule leaves little margin for error this time. Algeria will face Tunisia on 13 November before meeting Egypt on 16 November. Morocco will play Egypt next and finish against the host nation.

The top two teams in the mini-league will qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations U17.