Mozambique beat Ethiopia on penalties to qualify for U-17 World Cup
Mozambique qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup after beating Ethiopia 5-4 on penalties in their TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 play-off on Saturday.
The match finished 1-1 after normal time before Mozambique held their nerve in the shootout to claim one of Africa’s final places at the global tournament.
Ethiopia had taken the lead in the first half through Amir Misbah, but Mozambique responded after the break through Diego Pelemb to force the game to penalties.
The result means Mozambique have joined the eight U-17 AFCON quarter-finalists as one of Africa’s representatives at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Africa has 10 slots at the tournament, with the eight teams who reached the quarter-finals already guaranteed qualification.
The play-offs were introduced to decide the final two African qualifiers, with Ethiopia, Mozambique, Uganda and Ghana all given a second chance after missing out on the knockout stage.
Ethiopia started strongly and went ahead in the 16th minute when Misbah found the net to give his side a 1-0 lead.
The goal put Ethiopia on course for a major achievement after they had reached the play-offs through a dramatic final group match against Tunisia.
They had beaten Tunisia 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal to finish level on points with Egypt in Group A, only missing out on the quarter-finals because of goal difference.
Mozambique, however, refused to let the match drift away.
They improved after half-time and were rewarded in the 56th minute when Pelemb scored the equaliser to make it 1-1.
Both sides pushed for a winner, but neither could find the decisive goal in normal time.
The tie was then settled from the penalty spot, where Mozambique showed greater composure.
Ethiopia scored through Abenezer Alemayehu, Amanuel Guta, Chernet Uyas and Tinsae Mengistu, but Selesh Eniyew missed their third penalty.
Mozambique converted all five of their kicks, with Pascoal Demi, Joaquim Mubai, Pires Vieira, Floresnaldo Matias and Charif Carlos all scoring to seal a 5-4 shootout victory.
For Ethiopia, it was a painful end to a campaign that had shown courage and promise.
Their late win over Tunisia had kept their World Cup dream alive, but the missed penalty proved costly in the decisive moment.
For Mozambique, the victory turned group-stage disappointment into celebration.
They had fallen short of reaching the quarter-finals, but the play-off route gave them another opportunity and they took it under pressure.
The qualification also adds Mozambique to an African line-up that already includes Morocco, Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tanzania and Algeria.
Uganda and Ghana were also due to meet in the second play-off, with the winner completing Africa’s 10-team list for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Match details
Ethiopia 1-1 Mozambique
Mozambique won 5-4 on penalties
Scorers: Amir Misbah 16’ / Diego Pelemb 56’
Competition: TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 play-off
Date: Saturday, 23 May 2026
Venue: CMVI-T8
Outcome: Mozambique qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup