African football has once again demonstrated its growing strength on the global stage, with nine out of ten African nations advancing to the knockout stages of the U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The continent was represented by South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Mali — marking one of the largest African contingents in the tournament’s history.
While Ivory Coast was the only team unable to progress past the group phase, the rest of the African teams delivered exceptional performances. Senegal stood out as the only African nation to top their group, while South Africa, Zambia, Burkina Faso, and Mali secured second-place finishes. Meanwhile, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Uganda advanced as some of the best third-placed teams.
Meanwhile, Zambia impressed by holding Brazil to a 1–1 draw. This outstanding collective achievement highlights the rapid development of youth football across Africa and underscores the continent’s potential to dominate future world tournaments.
Africa is no longer just participating, Africa is competing, and Africa is rising.
