Mohammédia, Morocco — The defending champions of the CAF TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal, are left in suspense as they await their final group match to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. On Friday, in a tight Group C match, Senegal played to a 0-0 draw against Tunisia, failing to capitalize on their ball possession dominance.
Despite controlling the game, Senegal could not break through Tunisia’s well-organized defense, which displayed remarkable discipline. After narrowly defeating Gambia 1-0 in their previous match, the Senegalese hoped to qualify ahead of their final group outing.
Tunisia entered the match after a convincing 3-0 win over Somalia and aimed to cause an upset. Following the draw, uncertainty looms for Senegal, who face an already-eliminated Somalia in their last group match, requiring a must-win to advance.
On the other hand, Tunisia, now at the top of the group, will clash with Gambia, who still cling to slim hopes of qualification. Both matches will take place on Monday, April 7.
The group winners will not only secure a place in the quarter-finals but will also represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year in Qatar.
The tournament is well underway in Morocco, with the second round of group matches providing clarity on potential quarter-finalists. Currently, Burkina Faso and Mali have already qualified for the next stage.
In results from the second match day: Uganda triumphed over Tanzania 3-0, bouncing back from their earlier loss to Morocco. Meanwhile, Zambia and Morocco ended in a 1-1 draw, setting the stage for a thrilling final match.
As for class standings on April 6, Morocco will face Tanzania at 5:00 PM in Mohammédia, where a draw suffices for Morocco, but a win guarantees them the top spot. Uganda meets Zambia at 8:00 PM in Casablanca in a decisive duel; Uganda needs a win to advance, while Zambia can go through with a draw.
In the remaining matches, Cameroon and South Africa tied 0-0, leaving Cameroon frustrated despite dominating the game. Egypt fell to Burkina Faso 2-1, securing Burkina Faso’s spot in the quarter-finals.
On April 6, Burkina Faso will meet South Africa at 2:00 PM in El Jadida. South Africa must avoid defeat to edge ahead of Cameroon in the standings, while Cameroon faces Egypt at 5:00 PM in Casablanca, where they need a win for any chance of advancing.
Results from the second match day also saw Gambia overpower Somalia 5-1, and Tunisia holding Senegal to a 0-0 stalemate. Fans eagerly anticipate the final round on April 7, where Senegal needs at least a point against Somalia to ensure their progression.
In other news, the last day is set to be thrilling, with many teams vying for qualification across different groups. Fans can expect a fierce competition on Sunday and Monday as the eight teams to advance to the quarter-finals of the U-17 AFCON 2025 will be determined.
