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2025 U17 AFCON: South Africa and Egypt Group B Matchup
South Africa and Egypt will be meeting for the first time at the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025 when they open their Group B campaign at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Monday (kick-off 20h00 local time / GMT).
This meeting between South Africa and Egypt is one of three at CAF tournaments in 2025. They have also been paired together in the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 AFCON, which Egypt will host, as well as at the men’s senior TotalEnergies CAF AFCON in Morocco.
Egypt U17 coach Ahmed El Kass featured 72 times for the Egyptian national team and scored 23 goals. He faced South Africa twice, losing one game and winning another.
South Africa have played North African teams at the finals twice previously. They have not won either of these games (D1 L1), both of which have been group-stage meetings. In 2007 they drew 2-2 in their final pool game against Tunisia and in 2023 they began with a 2-0 loss to Morocco.
While this is Egypt’s first meeting against South Africa at the CAF U17 AFCON, they have met Southern African sides twice before, winning both games. On their way to the title in 1997 they defeated hosts Botswana 2-0 in their opening game.
Egypt’s other game against a COSAFA member nation ended in a 1-0 win in their opening group fixture against hosts Eswatini in 2003.
In both their previous finals appearances in 1997 and 2003 when overcoming Southern African opponents in the group stages, Egypt progressed to the knockout rounds winning the title in 1997 and ending fourth in 2003.
SOUTH AFRICA FACTS
· South Africa reached the quarter-finals at the last finals in Algeria in 2023, where they were defeated by eventual champions Senegal.
· South Africa are participating for a fifth time at the U17 finals having first made their debut in 2005. They also qualified in 2007, 2015 and 2023.
· South Africa have reached the knockout stage in three of their four previous finals appearances. In 2005 they ended fourth and in 2023 they reached the last eight. Their best performance was as runners-up in 2015. Their only group-stage elimination was in 2007.
· South Africa’s record in their opening group game at the finals reads P4 W0 D2 L2.
· In their opening group game in 2005, South Africa drew 2-2 against Nigeria, a game where they lead 2-0. In 2007 South Africa opened with a 2-0 loss to hosts Togo, while in 2015 they drew 2-2 against Cote d’ Ivoire, again letting a 2-0 lead slip, in 2023 they lost 2-0 to Morocco.
· Of South Africa’s previous 12 group games at the finals they have won five – their second group games in 2005 and 2023 against Southern African rivals Zimbabwe (4-1) and Zambia (3-2). Their other group stage wins were a 1-0 triumph in their final pool fixture in 2005 against Cote d’ Ivoire, a 3-1 win against Gabon in their second group game in 2007, and a 3-1 win over Cameroon in 2015.
· Of their other seven group games, South Africa have lost three games to Togo in 2007, and Morocco and Nigeria in 2023. They have also drawn four group games.
· All four of South Africa’s draws at the finals have been 2-2 stalemates.
· South Africa are coached by Vela Khumalo, who is a junior coach with Kaizer Chiefs. In the South African squad, eight players are from the Mamelodi Sundowns academy, followed by the Kaizer Chiefs academy who have five players, while Cape Town City have four players in the squad. All of their 21 players are domestically based.
EGYPT FACTS
· Egypt are participating at the finals for a fourth time after previous appearances in 1997, 2003 and 2011.
· Egypt return to the continental finals after missing the last five editions. They last qualified in 2011 when Rwanda were hosts.
· Egypt were winners when they made their finals debut in 1997. They were fourth in 2003 and were eliminated in the group stages in their last tournament appearance in 2011.
· Egypt’s record in their opening group game at the finals reads P3 W3 D0 L0. In their previous opening games they have defeated Botswana 2-0 in 1997 and Eswatini 1-0 in 2003. They also won 2-1 against Senegal in 2011.
· Egypt won their only title in Botswana in 1997, defeating Mali in the final 1-0. Egypt did not concede a goal en route to lifting the title, keeping five clean sheets.
· In fact, Egypt did not concede a goal in their first eight games the finals through five games in 1997 and three games in 2003. They first conceded in their 2-1 semi-final loss to Cameroon in 2003.
· In nine group games at the finals, Egypt’s record reads P9 W5 D2 L2.
· Egypt’s 4-0 loss to Burkina Faso in their final group game in 2011 is their biggest loss at the finals.
· Egypt qualified for the finals by finishing top of the 2024 UNAF U17 qualifying tournament, which was held in Morocco in November last year.
· Nine members of Egypt’s squad play their club football in the youth ranks of ENPPI, a further eight are in the youth ranks of Al Ahly.
· Of Egypt’s 26 man squad, 24 players are based in Egypt. Only Youssef El Shabrawy of Portuguese club Braga and Mahmoud Shaker of Italian club Pro Vercelli are based outside of the country.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK
Africa emerged as the most successful confederation in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with an unprecedented 90 percent of its representatives advancing to the Round of 32.
Nine of the 10 African teams that started the tournament secured places in the knockout phase, giving the Confederation of African Football (CAF) the highest qualification rate among all six continental confederations.
The African nations progressing to the Round of 32 are South Africa, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, Senegal, Egypt, Ghana, DR Congo and Algeria.
Only one African team failed to survive the group stage, underscoring the continent’s growing competitiveness on football’s biggest stage.
CAF’s 90 per cent success rate placed it ahead of South America’s CONMEBOL, which saw 83.33 per cent of its teams advance, and Europe’s UEFA, whose members recorded an 81.25 per cent qualification rate.
The figures represent a significant shift in the global football landscape, where European and South American nations have traditionally dominated World Cup competitions.
The expanded 48-team format appears to have provided African countries with greater opportunities to showcase their progress, and they responded with a series of impressive performances throughout the group stage.
Cape Verde emerged as one of the tournament’s surprise packages by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time, while South Africa, DR Congo and Algeria also celebrated historic advances.
Senegal made history by becoming the first African nation to score five goals in a World Cup match, while Morocco continued the momentum generated by their remarkable semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In contrast, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) endured a difficult campaign, with only 22.22 per cent of its teams progressing. The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) recorded a 50 per cent qualification rate despite having the advantage of three host nations.
Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) failed to place any team in the Round of 32.
World Cup Round of 32 Qualification Rates by Confederation
- CAF (Africa): 90%
- CONMEBOL (South America): 83.33%
- UEFA (Europe): 81.25%
- CONCACAF (North and Central America/Caribbean): 50%
- AFC (Asia): 22.22%
- OFC (Oceania): 0%
The statistics show Africa’s growing influence in world football and raise hopes that the continent could produce its strongest collective performance ever in the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup.
With nine teams still in contention, Africa enters the Round of 32 with more representatives than any other confederation and a genuine opportunity to challenge for the latter stages of the tournament.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK.
Ecuador will look to continue their strong record against Concacaf opposition when they face Curaçao in a Group E encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The South Americans enter the match having won their last two World Cup meetings with teams from the Concacaf region and will be eager to maintain that trend as they chase a place in the knockout rounds.
For Curaçao, however, the fixture represents an opportunity to create history.
The Caribbean nation is one of the tournament’s debutants and is still searching for its first World Cup victory. After suffering a heavy defeat to Germany in their opening match, Curaçao will be desperate to demonstrate the resilience and determination that earned them a place at the expanded 48-team tournament.
A victory would make them the first of the World Cup 2026 newcomers to register a win and would provide a significant boost to their qualification hopes.
Ecuador are expected to rely on their experience at this level, but they know underestimating Curaçao could prove costly. The underdogs have already shown flashes of attacking quality despite their difficult introduction against Germany.
As the group stage begins to take shape, both teams understand the importance of securing points. Ecuador are chasing progression, while Curaçao are chasing history.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK.
As Morocco edge closer to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026, captain Achraf Hakimi finds himself at the centre of two parallel narratives; one being football excellence and the other by legal proceedings that continue to cast a shadow over his career.
On the pitch, the 27-year-old has never appeared more influential.
Morocco’s 1-0 victory over Scotland not only moved the Atlas Lions within touching distance of the Round of 32, it also elevated Hakimi into the record books as the African player with the most FIFA World Cup appearances.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender made his 12th World Cup appearance, surpassing the previous mark jointly held by Cameroonian legend François Omam-Biyik and Ghana’s all-time leading scorer Asamoah Gyan.
It is a remarkable achievement for a player who made his World Cup debut as a teenager in Russia in 2018 and has since become one of the most recognisable faces of African football.
For Hakimi, the record is another milestone in a career already decorated with major club honours and individual accolades, including the African Footballer of the Year award. It also reinforces his status as one of the driving forces behind Morocco’s rise as a global football power.
His influence was most vividly illustrated at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Morocco became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Hakimi’s composure, leadership and attacking flair helped transform the Atlas Lions into one of the competition’s most compelling stories.
Four years later, he remains the heartbeat of a Moroccan side determined to prove that their success in Qatar was no one-off achievement.
The signs have been encouraging. Morocco opened their campaign with an impressive 1-1 draw against five-time champions Brazil before defeating Scotland to move within a point of qualification. A draw against Haiti in their final group match would be enough to secure passage to the knockout rounds.
Yet while Hakimi’s football achievements continue to accumulate, events away from the game have ensured that public attention remains divided.
The defender is facing the prospect of a criminal trial in France following allegations of rape first reported in 2023. Hakimi has consistently denied wrongdoing and has sought to challenge the legal process through the courts.
French media reported this week that an appeals court rejected a challenge to his referral to criminal court, clearing the way for a future trial.
Responding publicly, Hakimi reiterated his innocence and welcomed the opportunity to present his version of events.
“Today, a story that isn’t mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth,” he wrote on social media platform X.
“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it. Finally, I’ll be able to speak out.”
The legal proceedings remain ongoing, and no trial date has been announced.
For now, Morocco’s captain appears determined to keep his focus on football.
That ability to compartmentalise challenges has become a defining characteristic of elite athletes, particularly those operating under intense global scrutiny. With millions watching every move, Hakimi has continued to perform at the highest level for both club and country.
His record-breaking appearance against Scotland demonstrated once again why he remains indispensable to Morocco’s ambitions. Whether surging down the flank, organising teammates or inspiring supporters, Hakimi has become the symbol of a generation that has redefined expectations for African football.
As the World Cup enters its decisive phase, Morocco’s hopes of another deep run rest heavily on the shoulders of their captain.
The legal questions surrounding Hakimi will ultimately be settled in court. On the field, however, his contribution to Moroccan football is already firmly established.
And as the Atlas Lions pursue another place in World Cup history, their captain continues to add chapters to a legacy that has made him one of Africa’s most accomplished footballers.
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