The Confederation of African Football has officially outlined the draw procedures for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, setting the stage for Africa’s brightest young talents to battle for continental glory and qualification to the global stage.
The final draw is scheduled to take place in Cairo on April 8, 2026, and will be streamed live on CAF TV from 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT).
A total of 16 teams have qualified for the tournament and will be divided into four groups of four. The competition format ensures that the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Crucially, all eight quarter-finalists will automatically secure qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.
CAF decision
The stakes remain high even for teams finishing third in their groups, as an additional round of play-off matches will determine the final two African representatives at the World Cup.
Host nation Morocco headlines the list of qualified teams, joined by top contenders from across the continent. From the CECAFA zone come Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, while Angola, Mozambique, and South Africa represent COSAFA. WAFU A is represented by Senegal and Mali, with Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana coming from WAFU B. Cameroon and DR Congo qualify from UNIFFAC, while Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia complete the lineup from UNAF.
Seeding for the tournament draw is based on performances across the last three editions of the competition, with greater emphasis placed on more recent results. As defending champions and hosts, Morocco have been automatically placed in Group A. Meanwhile, Mali runners-up from the previous edition will headline Group C.
The remaining teams have been distributed into four pots based on their rankings. Pot 1 includes Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, while Pot 2 features South Africa, Cameroon, Angola, and Tunisia. Pot 3 consists of Uganda, Egypt, Algeria, and Tanzania, with Pot 4 comprising Ethiopia, Ghana, DR Congo, and Mozambique.
The draw will follow a structured sequence: Pot 4 teams will be placed first into positions A4, B4, C4, and D4, followed by Pot 3 teams into A3 through D3. Pot 2 teams will then fill A2 to D2 positions, before the final Pot 1 teams complete the groups by occupying B1 and D1.
With the roadmap now confirmed, anticipation is building for what promises to be a thrilling tournament showcasing the next generation of African football stars.
