The latest round of matches at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations saw Morocco and Cameroon frustrated in goalless draws, while Burkina Faso secured their place in both the tournament’s quarter-finals and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Uganda also revived their qualification hopes with a crucial win, leaving Tanzania’s chances hanging by a thread.
Morocco 0-0 Zambia
Morocco were held to a goalless draw by Zambia in their second match of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. After their dominant 5-0 win over Uganda, Nabil Baha’s side struggled to break down a resilient Zambian defense.
Both teams created few clear chances in a cautious first half. The game opened up slightly after the break, but Morocco’s momentum was disrupted when defender Hamza Mouhadi was sent off in the 75th minute following a VAR review. Zambia nearly capitalized in stoppage time, but Gabriel Phiri’s late effort missed the target.
Despite being a man down, Morocco had two late opportunities, with Ahmed Mouhoub and Ilies Belmokhtar both failing to convert.
The draw leaves Morocco and Zambia tied at the top of Group A with 4 points each, while Uganda sits third with 3 points after a 3-0 win over Tanzania, who remain bottom.
Cameroon 0-0 South Africa
Cameroon were held to a goalless draw by South Africa in their second Group B clash at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite dominating the match and creating several chances, including a first-half strike from David Bondoma that hit the post, the Cameroonian Cubs failed to find the breakthrough.
Bondoma remained a constant threat, nearly scoring late on with a solo effort. South Africa, fresh off a comeback win over Egypt, struggled to impose their usual fluid play.
The draw leaves Cameroon’s qualification hopes hanging with just one point, while South Africa sit top of the group with four points, awaiting the final round of group matches.
Burkina Faso 2-1 Egypt
Burkina Faso secured their place in the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON quarter-finals and became the first African team to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Egypt.
Issouf Dabo opened the scoring in the 41st minute, giving Burkina Faso a first-half lead. Asharaf Tabsoba doubled the advantage in the 69th minute with another impressive performance.
Egypt pulled one back in the 78th minute through Belal Ateya, setting up a tense finish, but Burkina Faso held firm to claim their second win in Group A.
With this victory, the West Africans advance to the knockout stages and secure their World Cup spot with a game to spare.
Uganda 2-0 Tanzania
Uganda bounced back from their opening defeat to Morocco with a commanding 2-0 victory over Tanzania in the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
After a goalless first half, Simon Wanyama broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, calming Ugandan nerves.
Richard Okello doubled the lead in the 85th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse, before James Ogere sealed the win from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
The victory lifts Uganda off the bottom of the table, leaving Tanzania’s qualification hopes in jeopardy.
