CAF Finalises 16-Team Roster for U-17 World Cup Qualifier

The Confederation of African Football has published the definitive roster of 16 countries set to compete at the 2026 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, with hosts Morocco leading a field that excludes Nigeria for the second consecutive tournament.

CAF confirmed the qualifiers through its official website on Sunday, finalising the lineup after Algeria secured the last available slot with a 1-0 victory over Egypt at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium. The North African derby concluded the zonal qualification phase that spanned six regional unions across the continent.

The tournament will take place in Morocco from April 25 to May 15, 2026, and will serve as the primary qualification pathway for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The global youth championship, expanding to 48 teams for the first time, is scheduled for November 2026, with the top 10 finishers at the U-17 AFCON earning automatic qualification.

The complete list of qualified nations comprises Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Nigeria’s absence marks a continued slump for the country’s youth football programme. The Golden Eaglets, historically one of Africa’s most decorated U-17 sides, were eliminated at the semi-final stage of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, falling 2-0 to regional rivals Ghana. The defeat prevented progression to the continental finals for the second edition running.

CAF operates the U-17 AFCON qualification through its six recognised zonal unions: North (UNAF), West A (WAFU A), West B (WAFU B), Central (UNIFFAC), Central-East (CECAFA), and South (COSAFA). Each regional body organises mini-tournaments featuring group stages and knockout rounds to determine its representatives.