Defending champions Morocco will begin the defence of their continental crown on home soil on Wednesday as the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 kicks off with 16 nations battling for African glory and qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

The tournament, which runs from May 13 to June 2, will introduce CAF’s new festival-style format aimed at creating a more integrated and development-focused environment for Africa’s rising football stars.

Most matches will take place at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading football facilities, while the opening match, semi-finals and final will be staged at other designated venues.

Morocco, which lifted the title in 2025, headlines a difficult Group A that also includes Tunisia, Egypt and Ethiopia.

The hosts are expected to carry enormous pressure as they seek to retain the trophy in front of home supporters, while also continuing the country’s growing influence in African and global football.

Under coach Tiago Lima Pereira, Morocco are expected to rely on an aggressive attacking approach built around ball possession, high pressing and fluid movement. Young talents Adam Bougazir, Rami Loukmani and Ilyan Hadidi are already attracting attention ahead of the competition.

Morocco’s opening clash against Tunisia is expected to provide an immediate examination of their title ambitions. Tunisia, led by coach Nadjeh Toumi, are known for their tactical discipline and defensive organisation and could pose a serious threat to the hosts.

The Moroccans are not only chasing continental success but also one of Africa’s 10 tickets to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026.

Under the tournament format, all eight quarter-finalists will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the four third-placed teams from the group stage will contest additional play-off matches to determine the final two African representatives.

The competition also reflects Morocco’s growing status as a major football host nation following recent successes in organising continental and international tournaments.

Elsewhere, Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon alongside Uganda and debutants DR Congo.

The tournament is expected to showcase some of Africa’s brightest emerging football talents, with nations hoping to combine continental success with qualification for the global stage in Qatar.

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Defending champions Morocco will launch the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations against Tunisia when the tournament kicks off next Wednesday, May 13, at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

The North African nation will host the continental cadet championship for the second consecutive edition, with the competition running from May 13 to June 2 across two major venues in Rabat and Maâmoura.

Having lifted the title on home soil in the previous edition, Morocco’s Atlas Cubs head into the tournament seeking to reaffirm their dominance in African youth football.

The opening fixture against Tunisia is expected to set the tone for a competition that also serves as qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Morocco’s emergence as a powerhouse in youth football has been linked to the long-term development strategy of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), whose investment in talent development and infrastructure has continued to yield results across different age categories.

Beyond the football itself, the tournament further strengthens Morocco’s status as a major destination for continental and global sporting events.

The country, which will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, has increasingly positioned itself as a hub for African football development and elite competition.

The hosting of the U-17 AFCON comes amid a packed sporting calendar for Morocco, with the 2026 Women’s AFCON, the 2026 Futsal AFCON and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup also scheduled to take place in the Kingdom.

Matches will be split between the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat and the state-of-the-art Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmoura. While the Mohammed VI Complex will host the group-stage fixtures, the Rabat stadium will stage the opening match, both semi-finals and the final on June 2.

The Mohammed VI Football Complex, regarded as one of Africa’s finest football facilities, has become a symbol of Morocco’s heavy investment in sports infrastructure and youth development.

The tournament will provide Africa’s best young talents with a crucial platform to compete for qualification spots to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, while also offering international exposure for the continent’s next generation of stars.

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African football’s next generation of stars will take centre stage on Wednesday as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the Final Draw for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2026, in Cairo.

The ceremony, scheduled for 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT) at CAF headquarters, will feature some of the continent’s established stars, including Fiston Mayele, Aliou Dieng and Ahmed Belhadji, who are expected to lend glamour to the event.

However, the absence of Nigeria—five-time world champions at this level—casts a long shadow over the tournament, with the Golden Eaglets notably missing from the 16-team lineup. Nigeria’s failure to qualify marks a significant setback for one of Africa’s most successful youth football programmes, renowned for producing global stars and setting benchmarks at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The 2026 edition, to be hosted by Morocco, will bring together 16 teams drawn from across CAF’s zonal unions. Representing the CECAFA region are Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda, while Angola, Mozambique and South Africa fly the COSAFA flag.

From WAFU Zone A come Senegal and Mali, with Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana representing WAFU Zone B. Cameroon and DR Congo qualified from UNIFFAC, while Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia complete the lineup from UNAF, joining hosts Morocco.

The expanded format underscores CAF’s renewed commitment to youth development, offering increased opportunities for emerging talents to gain continental exposure. Beyond the quest for the African title, the stakes are even higher, as the tournament doubles as a qualification pathway to the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year.

Africa will have 10 slots at the global tournament. The eight quarter-finalists will qualify automatically, while the remaining two tickets will be decided through play-off matches involving the four third-placed teams from the group stage.

For many of the participating nations, Morocco 2026 represents a crucial platform to showcase their next wave of stars. Yet, for Nigeria, the competition will unfold from the sidelines—a rare and sobering development for a country long regarded as a powerhouse of youth football on the continent.

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