The TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 officially begins today, Wednesday May 13, with 16 countries starting their quest for continental glory and qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The tournament, which will run until June 2, opens with four matches across four different venues in one center in Morocco as Africa’s next generation of football stars step onto the continental stage.
The opening day also marks the start of CAF’s newly introduced festival-style tournament concept aimed at improving player development and tournament organisation by centralising matches, training sessions and team operations within a connected environment.
Egypt and Ethiopia will kick-start the competition at 1pm at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, while Ivory Coast face Cameroon simultaneously on another field within the same venue.
Uganda will later take on DR Congo in the third game of the day at 4pm before host nation Morocco play Tunisia in the headline fixture scheduled for 7pm at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
This year’s edition arrives with increased significance following the expansion of Africa’s qualification slots for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Ten African nations will qualify for the tournament in Qatar, making this edition one of the most competitive in the history of the championship.
Ghana Set To Begin Campaign on Thursday
While action begins today, Ghana’s Black Starlets will open their campaign on Thursday, May 14, against Algeria in the final Group D fixture of the day.
The Black Starlets return to the continental championship after missing several recent editions, and their comeback has generated renewed interest among Ghanaian football supporters eager to see the country restore its reputation at youth level.
Historically, Ghana has been one of Africa’s strongest nations in juvenile football, producing several top players through the U-17 system and becoming the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
However, recent struggles to qualify consistently for major youth tournaments have placed greater focus on rebuilding the nation’s development structures and talent pipeline.
This year’s competition therefore presents an important opportunity for Ghana to reconnect with its successful past while testing a new generation of players against the continent’s best emerging talents.
Mohammed VI Football Complex: The Hub of the Tournament
The Mohammed VI Football Complex, which will host the majority of the tournament’s fixtures, is expected to play a major role in the competition’s atmosphere and organisation.
The facility has become one of Africa’s leading football centres and reflects Morocco’s growing investment in sports infrastructure.
Only the host’s opening game, semi-finals and final will be played away from the complex at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
Qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup remains the immediate target for every participating nation. The eight quarter-finalists will secure automatic places in Qatar, while the four teams that finish third in their groups will enter additional play-off matches to decide the final two qualification spots.
With more World Cup tickets available, many teams are expected to approach the group stage aggressively as they attempt to avoid the uncertainty of the play-offs.
Beyond the race for qualification, the tournament is also expected to attract scouts and football stakeholders monitoring the emergence of Africa’s next generation of stars.
Several top African players first gained international attention through the U-17 AFCON, and this year’s edition is expected to provide another platform for young talents to showcase their abilities on a major stage.
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