The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the 10 nations that will represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026. After a dramatic qualification process, Uganda secured the final ticket in thrilling fashion.
On Saturday, Uganda defeated Ghana 8-7 on penalties after a tense 2-2 draw in the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 play-off. Although Ghana pushed strongly, Uganda remained composed and eventually sealed victory in the shootout, completing Africa’s list of qualifiers.
Furthermore, Uganda joined Mozambique as the two teams that advanced through the play-off route. Meanwhile, the eight quarter-finalists from the U-17 AFCON had already booked their places earlier in the tournament.
CAF confirmed that Africa’s representatives will be dominated by North and West African nations, alongside emerging sides from East and Southern Africa. The qualified teams include Morocco, Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tanzania, Algeria, Mozambique, and Uganda.
However, Nigeria will not participate in the tournament after the Golden Eaglets failed to qualify for the continental championship, which serves as the pathway to the global competition scheduled for November 19 to December 13, 2026.
Additionally, CAF’s announcement completes Africa’s contribution to the expanded global tournament, as other confederations across Asia, Europe, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, and Oceania also finalized their slots.
Ultimately, Uganda’s victory highlights the unpredictable and competitive nature of African youth football, where resilience and determination often define success on the continental stage.
