U-17 AFCON: Africa’s quartet for the FIFA U-17 World Cup confirmed as tournament reaches its penultimate stage
Africa’s four representatives to the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ have been confirmed following the completion of the quarterfinal stage of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations Algeria 2023.
Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Mali will fly the continent’s flag in the global showpiece later this year after they reached the semi-final stages of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
The semi-finals will be played on Sunday, 14 May 2023.
Senegal will face Burkina Faso at the Stade 19 mai 1956 in Annaba, while Morocco will face Mali at the Stade Chadid Hamlaoui in Constantine.
Of the final four nations, Mali is the most experienced at the FIFA U-17 World Cup having qualified five times previously. This is their sixth qualification.
Mali achieved their best performance in 2015 when they reached the final, losing to African rivals Nigeria. Their last qualification dates back in 2017 in India when they finished fourth. They reached the quarterfinals in 1997 and 2001 and exited in the group stage in 1999.
Burkina Faso return to the global stage after a long absence. Their last qualification was in 2011. They have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup four times in total and their best ever performance was in 2001 when they finished third after beating Argentina 2-0 in the play-off match.
This will be Morocco’s second participation in the FIFA U-17 World Cup having made their debut in 2013.
After their first appearance in 2019 where they reached the round of 16 and lost to Spain 2-1 in the knockout stage, Senegal will take part in their second World Cup.
