CAIRO – The official draw for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) took place this Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt, placing the Algerian national team in a formidable Group D.
The “Fennecs” will face a grueling challenge against Senegal, the group seed and 2023 champions, alongside continental powerhouses South Africa and Ghana, the latter boasting an illustrious history in youth football. According to the tournament regulations, the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages.
Algeria secured their spot in the 2026 finals following a decisive 1-0 victory over Egypt in the final round of the UNAF qualifying tournament, held last Sunday at the Benghazi International Stadium in Libya. In the final qualifying standings, Algeria finished second with 7 points, followed by Egypt (6 points), Tunisia (4 points), and Libya (0 points).
The 16 nations qualified for the 2026 finals—scheduled to run from May 15 to June 2—have been divided into four groups of four.
World Cup Stakes
The stakes for this edition are exceptionally high. All eight quarter-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The remaining two African slots for the global showcase will be determined through additional play-off matches involving the best third-placed teams from the group stage.
The Full Group Composition:
Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia.
Group B: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo.
Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique.
Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana.
