The TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, taking place in Morocco from March 30 to April 19, 2025, kicked off with a highly exciting first day of competition that showcased an impressive level of play from several of the tournament’s top teams.
Despite the recent distraction of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March, the U-17 tournament captured the spotlight with thrilling matches and a remarkable display of attacking football.
The opening day of the group stage was marked by an extraordinary 34 goals across eight matches, an average of 4.25 goals per game, a striking contrast to the previous edition of the tournament in Algeria, which saw a much lower goal average of just 1.4 goals per match.
The attacking flair exhibited by the teams highlighted their physical readiness and offensive prowess, setting the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating competition.
One key takeaway from the first day was the impressive level of play from nations that have invested heavily in the development of young players through academies and youth training centers.
Teams such as South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Morocco all demonstrated their strength, with dominant victories.
South Africa triumphed over Egypt with a 4-3 win, Ivory Coast overwhelmed the Central African Republic 6-1, and Morocco dispatched Uganda 5-0.
Several standout individual performances also caught the eye.
Egypt’s Hamza Karim scored a stunning scissor-kick goal against South Africa, while Burkina Faso’s Loukman Tapsoba produced a moment of magic with a lob from just before the center circle that left the Cameroonian goalkeeper helpless.
The first scorer of the tournament, Morocco’s Illies Belmokhtar, netted a brace against Uganda, but the star of the day was undoubtedly Ivory Coast’s Alynho Haïdara, who netted an impressive four goals in his team’s demolition of the Central African Republic, placing him at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts.
Looking ahead, the second day of the group stage promises more excitement, with highly anticipated matches across the four groups.
Group A and B fixtures include Uganda versus Tanzania, Morocco against Zambia, Cameroon taking on South Africa, and Egypt facing Burkina Faso.
The following day will see Group C and D in action, with Gambia facing Somalia, Ivory Coast playing Angola, Tunisia against Senegal, and Mali meeting the Central African Republic.
With the opening day providing a thrilling glimpse into the talent on display, the rest of the tournament looks set to continue delivering dramatic moments and exceptional performances from the next generation of African football stars.
Results of Day 1:
Group A
- Morocco 5-0 Uganda
- Tanzania 1-4 Zambia
Group B
- Burkina Faso 2-1 Cameroon
- South Africa 4-3 Egypt
Group C
- Senegal 1-0 Gambia
- Somalia 0-3 Tunisia
Group D
- Mali 2-1 Angola
- Ivory Coast 6-1 Central African Republic
