2026 AFCON U-17
Ethiopia, Uganda face tough tests as AFCON U-17 campaign kicks-off
CECAFA Teams Ethiopia and Uganda will take to the field as the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco.
The competition will be played in a festival-style competition model with 30 matches to be played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex.
The opening match on Wednesday between hosts Morocco and Tunisia, semi-finals and final will be played at the Stade Moulay Hassan in Rabat.
Ethiopia will face a tough test in a Group A match against Egypt in what promises to be a thriller. Benjamin Ziemer, Ethiopia’s head coach has made it clear that it will be great to have a good start in the competition.
“We have prepared well in Ethiopia and a few days in Morocco and the players are ready for the campaign,” said Ziemer, an American born coach.
Dawit Kassaw Yirdaw who was one of the top scorers in the Zonal qualifiers last last year together with Biyam Abrha will be some of the key Ethiopian players to watch.
Uganda who are not new to this stage will also start their campaign today in a Group B encounter against debut making DR Congo.
The Uganda Cubs will go into the match breathing with some confidence after stopping Mozambique 3-1 and Mali 1-0 in two friendly matches played in Casablanca last week.
“We have prepared very well and the team is looking in shape ahead of our first match. Our major focus is to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup again like the team di last year and later battle for the title,” says Uganda’s head coach Laryea Kingston.
The Uganda Cubs will look to forward Owen Mukisa and instrumental Henry Muhoozi who are expected to play pivotal roles for the team.
The top two teams in each of the four groups earn direct qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026, while the other two slots are determined via a playoffs. A total of 10 teams will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.
Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia are the teams that qualified to represent the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) at the 2026 AFCON U-17.
May 13th Fixture
Morocco vs Tunisia (A)
Egypt vs Ethiopia (A)
Cote d’Ivoire vs Cameroon (B)
Uganda vs DR Congo (B)
The Serengeti Boys of Tanzania have finished runners-up at the TotalEnegries CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which climaxed on Tuesday night in Rabat, Morocco.
After a 1-1 draw in the 90 minutes, Senegal edged Tanzania 4-2 in penalty shoot-outs to emerge champions.
Hamis Chenga gave Tanzania an early 7th minute lead with a fine finish at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
But the Senegal team intensified their search for goals after falling a goal back. After recess the Senegal team pushed forward and equalized through Ibrahima Dione on 64 minutes. Dione shot from close range after the Tanzania goalkeeper Haji Abdullahi had parried back a free kick by Souleymane Commissaire Faye.
The two sides made some changes and created some decent scoring opportunities. During the penalty shoot-outs Senegal converted all their four penalties, while Kilendemo and Mbegu missed their attempts for Tanzania.
While Senegal lifted the trophy and won gold, Tanzania bagged silver and several Awards.
Elieneza Nsanganzelu, the Tanzania head coach said that although they lost the final, the team put up a good fight. “We are happy we managed to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and also reach the AFCON U-17 final for the first time,” added the coach.
The Tanzanian Team picked the Fair Play Award, Dismas Athanasi Elieneza with three goals picked the Top Scorer’s Award, while Issa Chole was voted TotalEnergies Man of the Competition.
The head coach of the Serengeti Boys, Elieneza Nsanganzelu has made it clear that he has the belief that the can win the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
Tanzania will be up against Senegal in the AFCON U-17 final on Tuesday at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
After topping the group, ejecting Algeria at the quarter final stage and seeing off Egypt in the semis, the Serengeti Boys are rearing to go all the way.
“We have been playing well since the tournament started and we have the confidence that we can win the trophy and take it back home,” says Nsanganzelu.
The coach however insists that his players must remain calm, follow their strategy and believe they can bring the trophy home.
The coach maintained that this is a final and the atmosphere is very different. “My players must play as a team and fight from the start to the end to carry the Tanzanian flag high,” added Nsanganzelu.
To reach the final hurdle Tanzania beat Mozambique and Angola by the same 3-0 scoreline, and went on to suffer a 2-1 defeat to Mali in Group C.
At the quarter final stage Tanzanian drew 3-3 with Algeria and came out top in penalty shoot-outs winning 4-3. Against Egypt they again won 4-3 in penalties after a 0-0 draw at the semi final stage.
Besides playing in the final of the AFCON U-17, Tanzania and Uganda from the CECAFA Zone have also booked slots in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.
Tanzania have written their own history by reaching the final of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026 on-going in Morocco.
The Serengeti Boys battled to a goalless draw against Egypt in the first semi-final, but came out top 4-3 on penalties in a match played at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Thursday night.
Coach Elieneza Nsanganzelu’s side will now face Senegal in the final on June 2nd, 2026.
The Senegal team held hosts Morocco to a 1-1 draw in the second semi-final and went on to win 7-6 via penalty shoot-outs.
“We are very happy that we have managed to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and now we have reached the final of the AFCON U-17,” a happy Tanzania coach Nsanganzelu said after the tense match.
To reach the final hurdle Tanzania beat Mozambique and Angola by the same 3-0 scoreline, and went on to suffer a 2-1 defeat to Mali in Group C.
At the quarter final stage Tanzanian drew 3-3 with Algeria and came out top in penalty shoot-outs winning 4-3. Against Egypt they again won 4-3 in penalties after a 0-0 draw at the semi final stage.
The Serengeti Boys of Tanzania have advanced to the semi-final stage at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026.
Tanzania, the 2025 CECAFA regional U-17 champions ejected Algeria at the quarter final stage of the tournament in a quarter final match played on Sunday.
After a 3-3 draw, Tanzania were the better side winning 4-3 in penalty shoot-outs in a match played at the Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 11 in Rabat, Morocco.
Mouhamed Valmy netted a first half brace as Algeria took a 2-1 lead after 45 minutes. Dismas Athanas pulled a goal back for the Seregenti Boys.
In the second half Noam Benramdane scored another goal for the North Africans, while Dismas Athanas and Luqman Mbalasalu had their names on the score board too as the match headed to penalty shoot-outs.
Tanzania converted all their penalty kicks, while Mouhamed Valmy missed for Algeria.
The Serengeti Boys now awat to face the winner betwee Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt at the semi final stage on May 28th.
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