CAF to introduce Festival-style concept for TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 as the tournament’s fixtures are confirmed
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The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) will introduce a new festival-style format for its youth competitions, bringing matches, training and team operations into one integrated setting for all participating teams.
The first Festival-Style event will be staged during the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2026 from 13 May to 02 June 2026.
All the matches, bar the opening match, the semi-finals and the final, will be played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Morocco.
The approach is designed to create a vibrant tournament atmosphere while enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring consistency in delivery and supporting long-term player development across multiple editions.
The final draw for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON Morocco 2026 was conducted earlier this month and produced a competitive group-stage line-up.
Hosts and defending champions Morocco have been drawn in Group A alongside Tunisia, Egypt and Ethiopia. Former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon headline Group B, where they are joined by Uganda and debutants DR Congo.
Last year’s runners-up Mali are in Group C together with Southern African sides Angola and Mozambique, as well as East African representatives Tanzania.
Senegal lead Group D, which also features 2015 runners-up South Africa, Algeria and two-time winners Ghana.
The eight quarter-finalists will automatically qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026, while the teams that finish third in their groups will contest two play-off matches to determine the final two qualification spots.
A total of 10 African nations will once again represent the continent at the global finals in Qatar later this year.
TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026:
GROUP A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
GROUP B: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
