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CAF Unveils Draw Procedures for the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the procedures for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to be held in Morocco in 2026. This prestigious tournament will showcase some of the best young football talent across the continent as they compete for the coveted trophy and an opportunity to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.
Final Draw Details
The much-anticipated Final Draw is scheduled for 08 April 2026, taking place in Cairo, Egypt. Football fans can catch all the action live on CAF TV at 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT).
Format of the Tournament
A total of 16 teams will be competing in the tournament, split into four groups consisting of four teams each. The tournament format allows for the top two teams from each group to advance to the knockout stage. Additionally, the eight quarter-finalist teams will automatically secure their spots at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026. Play-off matches will be held for the teams finishing third in their groups to determine the final two spots at the global finals.
Qualified Teams
Alongside the host nation Morocco, the confirmed teams for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON include:
- CECAFA: Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda
- COSAFA: Angola, Mozambique, South Africa
- WAFU A: Senegal, Mali
- WAFU B: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana
- UNIFFAC: Cameroon, DR Congo
- UNAF: Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia
Seeding for the Draw
The seeding for the draw will be determined by the performance of the teams in the last three editions of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON, excluding the canceled 2021 edition. The most recent tournaments will carry more weight in this evaluation.
Based on this seeding system, the defending champions, Morocco, will occupy Group A, while the previous tournament’s runners-up, Mali, will be the top seed in Group C.
Pot Allocations
Teams have been allocated into four pots as follows:
- Pot 1: Morocco, Mali, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire
- Pot 2: South Africa, Cameroon, Angola, Tunisia
- Pot 3: Uganda, Egypt, Algeria, Tanzania
- Pot 4: Ethiopia, Ghana, DR Congo, Mozambique
Draw Procedure
The draw will be conducted in an organized manner, filling positions in a systematic order. Teams from Pot 4 will be placed in positions A4, B4, C4, and D4. Subsequently, Pot 3 teams will fill positions A3, B3, C3, and D3, followed by Pot 2 teams in positions A2, B2, C2, and D2. Lastly, the teams in Pot 1 will complete the seeded line-up by being placed into positions B1 and D1.
Conclusion
The TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 promises to be an exciting showcase of youth football, with numerous emerging talents aiming for both continental and global honors. For more information on the tournament, visit CAF’s official website.
For further inquiries, please contact:
communications@cafonline.com
CAF | Communication Department
