The first round of the 2019 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania concluded this weekend, producing a mix of expected outcomes and surprising developments as the tournament moved into the semi-final stage. Angola, Nigeria, and Guinea secured their spots alongside Cameroon, ensuring all four teams have also booked their places at the upcoming U17 World Cup.
The final day of the group stage maintained high suspense, particularly in Group A, where all four teams still had a chance to advance. Nigeria, having already won their first two matches, needed only a draw to progress. The Golden Eaglets fulfilled that requirement with a 1-1 draw against Uganda, securing top spot in the group. Angola, meanwhile, showcased their attacking strength by defeating host nation Tanzania 4-2, comfortably claiming the second qualifying position.
Group B had already seen Cameroon secure a semi-final spot, but the second position remained undecided among Senegal, Guinea, and Morocco. Senegal were held to a 0-0 draw against the Indomitable Lions, failing to capitalize on the opportunity. Guinea, however, stepped up with a narrow 1-0 victory over Morocco, confirming their place in the semi-finals and cementing their reputation as one of the tournament’s rising powers.
With the semi-finals set, the favorites have largely delivered on expectations. Nigeria and Cameroon advanced as anticipated, while Guinea impressed by eliminating Mali, the two-time defending champions in the qualifiers, highlighting the team’s current strength and potential. Angola also continues to build on its recent success, following up their COSAFA U17 triumph with a strong showing in Tanzania.
For Tanzania, the outcome was disappointing. The host nation failed to earn a single point across three matches, leaving them out of contention for the semi-finals and underscoring the challenges of competing at this level despite the home advantage.
Statistics from the final day illustrate the attacking nature of the tournament. Nine goals were scored on the last day of group play, bringing the total to 33 goals since the start of the competition. The race for the Golden Boot remains competitive, with four players tied as the top scorers. Tanzania’s Edmund John, Nigeria’s Ubani Wisdom, Cameroon’s Ismaila Seidou, and Morocco’s Tawfik Bentayeb each have two goals, keeping the individual honors up for grabs as the tournament progresses.
As the competition moves into the knockout stage, the remaining semi-finalists—Nigeria, Cameroon, Guinea, and Angola—will aim to consolidate their positions as Africa’s top U17 teams and prepare to represent the continent at the forthcoming World Cup.
