Algerian Radio
The draw for the 2026 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), held on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt, has placed the Algerian national football team in Group 4.
Algeria will compete alongside Senegal, the group head and 2023 champions, as well as South Africa and Ghana, a powerhouse with multiple titles in this continental youth competition.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.
As a reminder, the Algerian U17 national team secured its qualification for the 2026 AFCON finals after defeating Egypt 1-0 in the fifth and final round of the North African Football Union (UNAF) tournament, held last Sunday at the Benghazi International Stadium in Libya.
In the final standings of the UNAF tournament, Algeria finished second with 7 points, ahead of Egypt in third (6 points), Tunisia in fourth (4 points), and Libya in fifth (0 points).
The 16 qualified teams for the 2026 AFCON finals, scheduled from May 15 to June 2, are distributed into four groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals.
All eight quarterfinalists will automatically secure their spots in the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup. The final two berths for the World Cup will be determined through additional playoff matches between the third-placed teams in their respective groups.
Group Composition:
Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia.
Group B: Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo.
Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique.
Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana.
