History was made in the 2025 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations final as Morocco lifted their first-ever title, edging past Mali 4-2 in a tense penalty shootout after a goalless draw in regular time.
The match, played under immense pressure and watched closely by scouts and fans across the continent, ended 0-0 after 90 minutes of tightly contested football. Both sides displayed tactical discipline and flashes of attacking brilliance but ultimately could not break the deadlock.
In the penalty shootout, Morocco held their nerve, converting four of their spot-kicks while Mali faltered, scoring just twice. The victory capped a historic campaign for the Atlas Cubs, as they now sit atop African youth football for the first time in their history.
Final Standings:
-
1st Place – Morocco (Champions, 1st AFCON U17 Title)
-
2nd Place – Mali (Runners-up)
-
3rd Place – Ivory Coast
Individual Awards:
-
Best Player: Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco)
-
Top Scorers: Loukman Tapsoba (Burkina Faso) & Alynhno Haidara (Ivory Coast) – 7 goals each
-
Best Goalkeeper: Chouaib Bellaarouch (Morocco)
-
Best Coach: Nabil Baha (Morocco)
-
Fair Play Team: Mali
The tournament also served as the final qualification route for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The top eight teams from this competition have now booked their places at the global event:
Africa’s Representatives at the FIFA U-17 World Cup:
-
Morocco
-
Mali
-
Ivory Coast
-
Burkina Faso
-
Zambia
-
South Africa
-
Senegal
-
Tunisia
With Morocco’s triumph and the emergence of several exciting talents, this year’s AFCON U17 showcased the growing strength of youth football on the continent. The road to Qatar 2025 now begins, and African fans will be eager to see how their teams perform on the world stage.
Congratulations to Morocco – AFCON U17 Champions!
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments