The semi final line up for the CAF U17 AFCON Morocco 2026 was confirmed after an action packed day of quarter final matches delivered drama, tension and late heroics across the tournament on Sunday, Trybal News reports.
Hosts Morocco kept their dream of winning the continental title alive after a hard fought 1-0 victory over Cameroon at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé. The decisive moment was produced in the 17th minute when Mohamed Habib Zinbi calmly finished low into the bottom corner after Cameroon had earlier been denied by an impressive save from Moroccan goalkeeper Rayan Yaakoubi.
A disciplined defensive performance was then produced by the hosts as Cameroon struggled to find a way back into the contest despite enjoying spells of pressure. As a result, Morocco advanced to the semi finals where a heavyweight clash against defending champions Senegal now awaits.
Senegal’s path to the last four was achieved in far more dramatic fashion. The Young Lions of Teranga were forced to battle through adversity before defeating Mali 4-2 on penalties after an intense 1-1 draw. Their challenge became even more difficult after a red card reduced them to ten men, while a late equaliser from Mali pushed the contest into a shootout.
However, composure was shown by the Senegalese players from the penalty spot and goalkeeper Assane Sarr emerged as the hero after a decisive save from Aboubacar Maïga secured qualification for the former champions.
On the other side of the draw, Tanzania continued to capture attention with another fearless display as Algeria were beaten 4-3 on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw. One of the most entertaining matches of the competition was witnessed as Algeria twice took the lead, only for Tanzania to respond each time with remarkable determination.
With neither side able to find a winner in normal time, the contest was eventually decided from the penalty spot where Tanzania held their nerve to complete another famous victory. Their impressive run has now established them as one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
Egypt also booked their place in the semi finals after producing the most dominant quarter final performance of the day with a commanding 4-1 victory over Côte d’Ivoire. The young Pharaohs took control early in the encounter after three goals were scored before half time.
Khaled Mokhtar delivered a standout performance with two goals as Egypt overwhelmed their opponents with attacking quality and clinical finishing. The convincing result ensured their place in the final four where they will now face Tanzania.
The semi finals are scheduled to be played on Thursday, 28 May, at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. Egypt will take on Tanzania in the opening semi final before Senegal face hosts Morocco later in the day.
The winners will progress to the final on Tuesday, 2 June, while the losing semi finalists will contest the third place match on Monday, 1 June.
Meanwhile, all four semi finalists had already secured qualification for the FIFA U 17 World Cup in Qatar by reaching the quarter finals. Earlier on Saturday, the final African qualification places were also confirmed after Uganda defeated Ghana 8-7 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in their playoff match at CMVI T11.
Uganda’s victory secured the continent’s 10th and final World Cup ticket, with Mozambique also qualifying through the playoff route. The complete list of African representatives for the FIFA U 17 World Cup Qatar 2026 now includes Morocco, Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tanzania, Algeria, Mozambique and Uganda.
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, however, will not feature at the tournament after failing to qualify for the CAF U 17 AFCON, which also serves as the qualification competition for the FIFA U 17 World Cup scheduled to take place from November 19 to December 13, 2026
