The draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Under-17 (AFCON U-17) was held in Cairo, Egypt, placing host nation Morocco and Egypt in the same group. The two North African football powerhouses will face each other in Group A during the group stage of the tournament.
Morocco, as the host nation, was automatically seeded in Group A alongside Egypt, making for an early high-profile clash between two of the continent's most competitive youth football programs. The full group compositions were determined during the Cairo draw ceremony.
The AFCON U-17 tournament serves as a qualifying competition for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, adding significant stakes to each match beyond the continental title. African nations that perform well at this tournament earn berths at the global youth championship.
Morocco has been investing heavily in youth football development in recent years, and hosting the tournament represents an opportunity for the country to showcase its footballing infrastructure following its successful bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
