The 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification is a men's under-17 football competition that decided the participating teams of the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Players born on 1 January 2010 or later are eligible to participate in the competition. A total of sixteen teams qualified to play in the final tournament.
Teams ZoneSpotsTeams entering qualificationDid not enterNorth Zone(UNAF)4 spotsWest A Zone(WAFU-UFOA A)2 spotsWest B Zone(WAFU-UFOA B)2 spotsCentral Zone(UNIFFAC)2 spotsCentral-East Zone(CECAFA)3 spotsSouth Zone(COSAFA)3 spots
Notes Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament. (W): Withdrew after draw (D): Disqualified
North Zone
West A Zone
The WAFU-UFOA Zone A qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations are hosted by Senegal with the matches played between 7 and 20 September 2026. The matches are played at Dakar, Senegal.
Group stage The eight teams were drawn into two groups of four teams. The winners and the runners-up of each group advanced to the semi-finals.
Tiebreakers Teams were ranked according to the three points for a win system (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if two teams were tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13): Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams; Goal difference in all group matches; Goals scored in all group matches; Drawing of lots. If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead: Points in matches between the tied teams; Goal difference in matches between the tied teams; Goals scored in matches between the tied teams; If after applying all criteria above, two teams were still tied, the above criteria were again applied to matches played between the two teams in question. If this did not resolve the tie, the next three criteria were applied; Goal difference in all group matches; Goals scored in all group matches; Drawing of lots.
Group A
Group B
was also drawn into this group but were disqualified from the qualifiers after a few of their players failed to pass the MRI test.
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Third place play-off
Final
West B Zone The WAFU-UFOA Zone B qualifiers for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by Burkina Faso with the matches played between 10 and 23 October 2026, the draw was announced on 3 September 2026.
All times are local, GMT (UTC±0).
Group stage The seven teams were drawn into two groups of three and four teams. The winners and the runners-up of each group advanced to the semi-finals.
Tiebreakers Teams were ranked according to the three points for a win system (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if two teams were tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 13): Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams; Goal difference in all group matches; Goals scored in all group matches; Drawing of lots. If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead: Points in matches between the tied teams; Goal difference in matches between the tied teams; Goals scored in matches between the tied teams; If after applying all criteria above, two teams were still tied, the above criteria were again applied to matches played between the two teams in question. If this did not resolve the tie, the next three criteria were applied; Goal difference in all group matches; Goals scored in all group matches; Drawing of lots.
Group A
Group B
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Third place play-off
Final
See also 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
Notes
References