Four African nations will fight for the continent’s final two places at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup when Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia and Mozambique contest decisive play-off matches in Morocco on Saturday.
The play-offs represent a final opportunity for the quartet after each narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for the knockout stage of the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Africa has been allocated 10 places at the expanded FIFA U-17 World Cup, with the eight quarter-finalists already guaranteed qualification. The remaining two tickets will now be decided through the play-offs.
The situation underlines the increasingly competitive nature of youth football on the continent, where even traditional powers are being forced into dramatic qualification battles.
Ghana enter their play-off against Uganda national under-17 football team knowing victory is the only route left to the global tournament.
The Black Starlets finished third in Group D despite ending the group phase strongly with a 3-1 victory over South Africa. Ghana finished level on four points with Algeria, but lost out on automatic qualification because of an inferior goal difference.
That outcome denied the West Africans a quarter-final place, although their attacking display against South Africa kept their World Cup hopes alive.
Joseph Narbi scored twice from the penalty spot in that match, while Augustine Appiah added another goal late on to secure Ghana’s first win of the tournament.
Uganda now stand between Ghana and another appearance on the world stage.
Elsewhere, Ethiopia will face Mozambique national under-17 football team in another high-stakes encounter.
Ethiopia reached the play-offs after a dramatic conclusion to their group campaign.
Amir Misbah scored a stoppage-time winner against Tunisia to secure a 1-0 victory and move Ethiopia level on points with Egypt.
However, Egypt advanced because of a superior goal difference, forcing Ethiopia into the play-off route instead.
Mozambique also narrowly missed automatic qualification but remain in contention for a historic World Cup appearance.
The expanded World Cup qualification system has created additional opportunities for African nations, with the continent now set to send 10 representatives to the global competition.
The teams already assured of qualification include several Francophone African sides, with Senegal, Mali , Ivory Coast and Morocco all progressing to the quarter-finals and securing World Cup places.
Cameroon, Egypt, Tanzania and Algeria have also already booked their spots.
