CAF U17 AFCON: Final group game to decide knockout places
Sunday marks the start of the final round of group matches at the ongoing TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with several spots in the quarter-finals and World Cup still up for grabs.
Some teams have already punched their ticket to the next stage as well as their slots at the World Cup in Qatar later this year, while others are clinging to hopes of progression.
Mali and Burkina Faso through to quarter-finals
Mali and Burkina Faso have secured their spots in the quarter-finals after winning their opening two matches. Mali beat Angola 2-1 before dispatching Central African Republic 2-0, showcasing strong cohesion and tactical maturity.
Burkina Faso, meanwhile, edged Cameroon 2-1 and followed that up with a narrow 2-1 win over Egypt, showing grit and determination in both matches. Their results guarantee passage into the last eight.
World Cup Play-off Scenario
With ten African places available for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar this November, every match is crucial. The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the quarter-finals.
The four third-placed teams will then contest World Cup play-off matches to determine the final two qualifiers from Africa.
As it stands, no team is mathematically out of contention for those play-off slots.
Group A Morocco – 4 points (+5)
Zambia – 4 points (+3)
Uganda – 3 points (-2)
Tanzania – 0 points (-6)
Final Group Fixtures: Morocco vs Tanzania
Uganda vs Zambia
Group B Burkina Faso – 6 points (+2)
South Africa – 4 points (+1)
Cameroon – 1 point (-1)
Egypt – 0 points (-2)
Final Group Fixtures: Burkina Faso vs South Africa
Cameroon vs Egypt
Group C Tunisia – 4 points (+3)
Senegal – 4 points (+1)
Gambia – 3 points (+3)
Somalia – 0 points (-7)
Final Group Fixtures: Tunisia vs Gambia
Senegal vs Somalia
Group D Mali – 6 points (+3)
Côte d'Ivoire – 4 points (+5)
Angola – 1 point (-1)
Central African Republic – 0 points (-7)
Final Group Fixtures: Mali vs Côte d'Ivoire
Angola vs Central African Republic
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