CAF Launches New “Festival” Format for the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco

3 hours ago

1 minute read

The African Football Confederation (CAF) has announced an innovative new “festival” format for its youth competitions. This model combines matches, training sessions, and team activities in an integrated environment.

A New Approach to Youth Competitions

According to CAF, this new concept aims to transform the experience of youth tournaments by creating a more dynamic and structured atmosphere.

The main objectives are:

Enhancing organizational efficiency
Strengthening the coherence of competitions
Promoting the development of young African talents

This format represents a significant evolution in the strategy for developing African football.

2026 U-17 AFCON in Morocco as a Pilot Event

The first tournament to be held under this new format will be the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled from May 13 to June 2, 2026.

Most matches will take place at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, a modern facility dedicated to the development of African football.

However, the opening match, semi-finals, and final will be held at designated other stadiums.

A Competitive Tournament with Balanced Groups

The draw has divided the teams into four competitive groups:

Group A

Morocco
Tunisia
Egypt
Ethiopia

Group B

Côte d’Ivoire
Cameroon
Uganda
DR Congo

Group C

Mali
Angola
Tanzania
Mozambique

Group D

Senegal
South Africa
Algeria
Ghana

Qualification for the 2026 U-17 World Cup

The stakes of this U-17 AFCON are high, as it will serve as a qualifying event for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026 in Qatar.

The eight teams qualifying for the quarter-finals will secure their spots for the World Cup directly.
The teams finishing third will compete in playoffs for the last two African spots.

In total, ten African nations will represent the continent in the final global stage.