AFCON U-17
Somalia’s team enters residential camp ahead of 2023 TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
The national U-17 team of Somalia has entered residential camp ahead of the 2023 TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Under the watchful eyes of coach Nur Mohamed Amin, the team entered camp at the National Technical Centre in Mogadishu on Thursday to prepare for the competition that will take place April 29th to May 19th, 2023 in Algeria.
Awil Ismail Mohamed, the Somali Football Federation (SFF) technical director said the team has been undergoing non residential training for over two months now. He said the residential camping will help the technical staff and the players get the opportunity to engage in more training sessions.
The SFF Second Vice President, Abdirashid Abdulle who addressed the team before entering camp called on the Somali business community to come in and support the team.
Ahmed Farah Taqal, the SFF First Vice President said the team will also have some international friendly matches before traveling to Algeria for the U-17 AFCON. He made it clear that the team will also travel and camp in Ethiopia for some days.
Somalia made history by stopping South Sudan 2-1 to lift the Zonal CECAFA U-17 Championship held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Somalia team has now been placed in Group A of the U-17 AFCON together with hosts Algeria, Senegal and Congo Brazzaville. CECAFA’s second representatives South Sudan are in Group C together with defending champions Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso.
The top four teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru as the CAF representatives.
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.
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.
CECAFA teams Ethiopia and Uganda have been handed tricky opponents during the draw for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026 conducted on Wednesday.
During the draw conducted at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Three current African stars; Fiston Mayele (Pyramids FC and DR Congo), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly and Mali) and Ahmed Belhadji (Ceramica Cleopatra and Morocco) participated in the draw proceedings.
Ethiopia who will be making their debut in the competition have been drawn in Group A alongside the hosts Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.
Uganda who played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026 have also been handed a tough draw alongside Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon and DR Congo.
The CECAFA Zonal reigning champions Tanzania have been placed together with Mali, Angola and Mozambique in Group C.
Morocco will host the CAF U-17 AFCON from May 13th to June 2 with sixteen teams taking part. The best ten teams will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Sixteen teams divided in four groups will tussle it out in the completion, with 10 qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.
Last year Uganda secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup he first time by defeating The Gambia 2-1 in a playoff during the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025.
Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
Group B: Cot d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
The Uganda Cubs will wait to tussle it out for a place for the FIFA U-17 World Cup via the play-offs.
Uganda’s second defeat at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Sunday night to Zambia meant the CECAFA side can only qualify through the play-off.
Going into the match Uganda needed to defeat Zambia to look a place in the quarter final and also secure direct qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup. But the COSAFA team defeated Uganda 2-1 in Group A match played at the El Arbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca, Morocco.
The Junior Chipolopolos scored after 20 minutes through Kelvin Mulenga Chipelu, but Uganda equalized through defender Elvis Torach four minutes after the break.
Substitute Billy Daka made amends after 86 minutes to put Zambia ahead after his penalty had been stopped by the Ugandan Cubs goalkeeper earlier in the second half.
Brian Ssenyondo, Uganda’s coach said that they will now focus on preparing for the play-off next weekend. Uganda will face the third placed team in Group C.
In another Group A match played on Sunday, hosts Morocco stopped Tanzania 3-0. It was Tanzania’s third straight defeat in the on-going competition.
Somalis will return to action on Monday when they face reigning champions Senegal, while The Gambia take on Tunisia in the other match.
The top 10 teams at the U-17 AFCON which ends on April 19th will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar as the CAF representatives.
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