The U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, known as the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship purposes, is a biennial youth association football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for its nations consisting of players under the age of 17. It serves as the African qualification tournament for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

History

In 1985, FIFA created a World Cup tournament for players under 17 years of age, but CAF organized a knock-out home-and-away qualification competition so as to qualify participants there. In 1995, CAF upgraded the competition into a full standalone competition hosted by a country and named it the African U-17 Championship. On 6 August 2015, the CAF Executive Committee decided to change the tournament's name to the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations. The tournament's name on its official logo after the announcement was however depicted as the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in line with the senior version, the Africa Cup of Nations.[1]

On 21 July 2016, French energy and petroleum giant TotalEnergies (formerly Total S.A) secured an 8-year sponsorship package from CAF to support its competitions.[2][3]

Beginning with the 2023 edition, the tournament will be contested by 12 teams. It would have been in effect from the 2021 edition, but that was cancelled by CAF due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa and its impact.[4][5]

Results

African U-16 Qualifying for World Cup

Edition Year Host Qualifier teams
Winner Winner Winner
1 1985 Home sites
Congo

Guinea

Nigeria
2 1987 Home sites
Ivory Coast

Egypt

Nigeria
3 1989 Home sites
Nigeria

Ghana

Guinea

African U-17 Qualifying for World Cup

Edition Year Host Qualifier teams
Winner Winner Winner
4 1991 Home sites
Ghana

Congo

Sudan
5 1993 Home sites
Ghana

Nigeria

Tunisia

African U-17 Championship

Edition Year Host Final Third Place Match
Winner Score Runner-up Third Place Score Fourth Place
6 1995  Mali
Ghana
3–1 (a.e.t.)
Nigeria

Guinea
2–1 (a.e.t.)
Mali
7 1997  Botswana
Egypt
1–0
Mali

Ghana
1–0
Ethiopia
8 1999  Guinea
Ghana
3–1
Burkina Faso

Mali
1–0
Cameroon
9 2001  Seychelles
Nigeria
3–0
Burkina Faso

Mali
Vacant[a]
10 2003  Swaziland
Cameroon
1–0 (a.e.t.)
Sierra Leone

Nigeria
3–1
Egypt
11 2005  Gambia
Gambia
1–0
Ghana

Ivory Coast
1–0
South Africa
12 2007  Togo
Nigeria
1–0 (a.e.t.)
Togo

Ghana
1–0
Tunisia
13 2009  Algeria
Gambia
3–1
Algeria

Burkina Faso
2–0
Malawi
14 2011  Rwanda
Burkina Faso
2–1
Rwanda

Congo
2–1
Ivory Coast
15 2013 Morocco Morocco
Ivory Coast
1–1
(5–4 p)

Nigeria

Tunisia
1–1 (a.e.t.)
(11–10 p)

Morocco
16 2015 Niger Niger
Mali
2–0
South Africa

Guinea
3–1
Nigeria

U-17 Africa Cup of Nations

Edition Year Host Final Third Place Match
Winner Score Runner-up Third Place Score Fourth Place
17 2017  Gabon[7][8][b]
Mali
1–0
Ghana

Guinea
3–1
Niger
18 2019  Tanzania[9]
Cameroon
0–0
(5–3 p)

Guinea

Angola
2–1
Nigeria
19 2021  Morocco[10] Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
19 2023  Algeria[11][12]
Senegal
2–1
Morocco

Burkina Faso
2–1
Mali

Total wins

Team Champions Runners-up Third-place Fourth-place
 Ghana 2 (1995, 1999) 2 (2005, 2017) 2 (1997, 2007)
 Nigeria 2 (2001, 2007) 2 (1995, 2013) 1 (2003) 2 (2015, 2019)
 Mali 2 (2015, 2017) 1 (1997) 2 (1999, 2001) 2 (1995*, 2023)
 Cameroon 2 (2003, 2019) 1 (1999)
 Gambia 2 (2005*, 2009)
 Burkina Faso 1 (2011) 2 (1999, 2001) 2 (2009, 2023)
 Ivory Coast 1 (2013) 1 (2005) 1 (2011)
 Egypt 1 (1997) 1 (2003)
 Senegal 1 (2023)
 Guinea 1 (2019) 3 (1995, 2015, 2017)
 South Africa 1 (2015) 1 (2005)
 Morocco 1 (2023) 1 (2013*)
 Sierra Leone 1 (2003)
 Togo 1 (2007*)
 Algeria 1 (2009*)
 Rwanda 1 (2011*)
 Tunisia 1 (2013) 1 (2007)
 Congo 1 (2011)
 Angola 1 (2019)
 Ethiopia 1 (1997)
 Malawi 1 (2009)
 Niger 1 (2017)
* = As hosts

Note: no 4th-place finish in 2001 due to Guinea's disqualification.[6]

Participating nations

Team Mali
1995
Botswana
1997
Guinea
1999
Seychelles
2001
Eswatini
2003
The Gambia
2005
Togo
2007
Algeria
2009
Rwanda
2011
Morocco
2013
Niger
2015
Gabon
2017
Tanzania
2019
Algeria
2023
Years
 Algeria × × 2nd × QF 2
 Angola GS GS GS 3rd × 4
 Botswana GS GS × GS 3
 Burkina Faso × 2nd 2nd GS GS 3rd 1st 3rd 7
 Cameroon × × 4th GS 1st GS GS GS 1st GS 8
 Congo × × × × × × × 3rd GS QF 3
 Egypt 1st × 4th × × GS × × 3
 Eritrea × × × GS × × × × × × 1
 Eswatini × × GS × × × × × × × × 1
 Ethiopia × 4th GS GS × 3
 Gabon × × × × GS GS GS × × 3
 Gambia × × × GS 1st 1st GS × × 4
 Ghana 1st 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd GS 2nd 7
 Guinea 3rd GS GS GS 3rd 3rd 2nd × 7
 Ivory Coast GS × 3rd 4th 1st GS 5
 Malawi × × 4th × × × 1
 Mali 4th 2nd 3rd 3rd GS GS 1st 1st 4th 9
 Morocco × 4th GS 2nd 3
 Mozambique GS × × GS 2
 Niger × × × × × × × × GS 4th 2
 Nigeria 2nd GS 1st 3rd GS 1st 2nd 4th 4th QF 10
 Rwanda × × × × 2nd × × 1
 Senegal × × × GS GS 1st 3
 Seychelles × × × GS × × × × × 1
 Sierra Leone × 2nd × × × × 1
 Somalia GS 1
 South Africa 4th GS 2nd QF 4
 South Sudan Country didn't exist: part of Sudan × × ×   0
 Sudan GS × × × × × 1
 Tanzania × × × × × GS GS 2
 Togo × × × × 2nd × × × × 1
 Tunisia GS 4th 3rd 3
 Uganda × × × × × × × × × × × GS 1
 Zambia × × GS GS 2
 Zimbabwe GS GS GS GS × × × × × 4
Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place
  • 4th – Fourth place
  • GS – Group stage
  • q – Qualified for upcoming tournament edition
  •     — Hosts
  •  ×  – Did not enter
  •  •  – Did not qualify
  •  ×  – Withdrew before qualification/Banned
  •     — Withdrew after qualification
  •     — Disqualified after qualification

FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifications

Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place
  • 4th – Fourth place
  • QF – Quarterfinals
  • R2 – Round 2
  • R1 – Round 1
  •      – Hosts
  • q – Qualified for upcoming tournament
Team China
1985
Canada
1987
Scotland
1989
Italy
1991
Japan
1993
Ecuador
1995
Egypt
1997
New Zealand
1999
Trinidad and Tobago
2001
Finland
2003
Peru
2005
South Korea
2007
Nigeria
2009
Mexico
2011
United Arab Emirates
2013
Chile
2015
India
2017
Brazil
2019
Indonesia
2023
Total
 Algeria R1 1
 Angola R2 1
 Burkina Faso R1 3rd R2 R1 R1 5
 Cameroon R1 R1 2
 Congo R1 R1 R2 3
 Egypt R1 QF 2
 Gambia R1 R1 2
 Ghana R1 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd R1 4th QF 9
 Guinea 4th R1 R1 R1 R1 5
 Ivory Coast 3rd R1 R2 QF 4
 Malawi R1 1
 Mali QF R1 QF 2nd 4th 3rd 6
 Morocco R2 QF 2
 Niger R2 1
 Nigeria 1st 2nd QF 1st QF 2nd R1 1st 2nd 1st 1st R2 12
 Rwanda R1 1
 Senegal R2 R2 2
 Sierra Leone R1 1
 South Africa R1 1
 Sudan R1 1
 Togo R1 1
 Tunisia R1 R2 R2 3

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The 4th place was declared vacant after Guinea were disqualified following the suspension of its football association by FIFA due to government interference.[6]
  2. ^ Originally set to be hosted by Madagascar.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Committee on 6 August 2015". CAFOnline.com. 9 August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Total, Title Sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations and Partner of African Football". CAFOnline.com. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Total to sponsor CAF competitions for the next eight years". africanews. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  4. ^ "CAF Holds Executive Committee Meeting ahead of CAN Total U-23 Final". CAFOnline.com. 21 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019. New formats for youth and women's competitions based on 12 teams were approved.
  5. ^ "2021 Total U17 Africa Cup of Nations cancelled". CAFOnline.com. 8 March 2021. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b "FIFA Media Advisory on the Suspension of the Guinean Football Association". FIFA. Zürich, Switzerland. 19 March 2001. Archived from the original on 31 March 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2002.
  7. ^ "Gabon new host of 2017 AFCON U-17". CAFOnline.com. 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b Okinyo, Collins (3 February 2017). "Gabon new host for U17 Championship". SuperSport. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  9. ^ "CAF Executive Committee decisions of 26 May 2015". CAFOnline.com. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2022. Furthermore, the CAF Executive Committee ruled favourably on the request of the Tanzanian Football Association to host the 2019 African U-17 Championship...
  10. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Commitee [sic] - 27 & 28 September 2018". CAFOnline.com. 29 September 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2022. Total U-17 AFCON 2021 : Morocco
  11. ^ "🟧 CAF Executive Committee Media Statement". CAFOnline.com. 15 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2022. TOTAL CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023: Algeria
  12. ^ "L'Algérie organisera l'édition 2023" [Foot / CAN U17: Algeria will organize the 2023 edition]. Le Soir d'Algerie (in French). 15 May 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2022.

External links