UNAF: Road to TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations gets under way

The North African Football Union (UNAF) qualifiers for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2027 will get under way on Thursday, 24 September, with Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Morocco battling for a place at the continental finals.

The draw was conducted on Wednesday, 26 August, producing a packed programme of fixtures in what promises to be a fiercely contested qualifying tournament, given the traditional rivalry and closely matched nature of the North African sides.

The qualifiers will be staged in Egypt from 24 September to 6 October, with matches played at the Suez Canal Stadium and Ismailia Stadium. The Suez Canal Stadium will host the majority of the fixtures, while Ismailia Stadium will stage one match on the final day.

The competition opens on 24 September with two matches at the Suez Canal Stadium. Algeria take on Tunisia in the first encounter, before hosts Egypt face Libya, with Morocco receiving a bye in the opening round.

The second round follows on 27 September, when Libya meet Algeria and Tunisia face Morocco, with both matches again at the Suez Canal Stadium. Egypt will sit out the round.

Egypt return to action against Tunisia in the third round on 30 September, while Morocco meet Algeria in the other fixture. Libya have a bye.

The fourth round on 3 October will see Tunisia take on Libya before Egypt face Morocco, with both games at the Suez Canal Stadium. Algeria will have the day off.

The qualifiers conclude on 6 October with two potentially decisive encounters played simultaneously across the two venues. Libya face Morocco at Ismailia Stadium, while Algeria meet Egypt at the Suez Canal Stadium. Tunisia will sit out the final round.

The UNAF qualifiers are traditionally among the most competitive regional qualification tournaments on the continent, with little separating the North African nations. That competitive balance should once again make the battle for a place at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2027 an intriguing and unpredictable one.

UNAF qualifying fixtures – TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2027

Matchday 1 – 24 September

Algeria vs Tunisia – Suez Canal Stadium
Egypt vs Libya – Suez Canal Stadium
Bye: Morocco

Matchday 2 – 27 September

Libya vs Algeria – Suez Canal Stadium
Tunisia vs Morocco – Suez Canal Stadium
Bye: Egypt

Matchday 3 – 30 September

Egypt vs Tunisia – Suez Canal Stadium
Morocco vs Algeria – Suez Canal Stadium
Bye: Libya

Matchday 4 – 3 October

Tunisia vs Libya – Suez Canal Stadium
Egypt vs Morocco – Suez Canal Stadium
Bye: Algeria

Matchday 5 – 6 October

Libya vs Morocco – Ismailia Stadium
Algeria vs Egypt – Suez Canal Stadium
Bye: Tunisia