The Under-17 Football World Cup began this Friday, November 10 in Indonesia, and until December 2, we will be treated to exciting meetings between young football hopefuls. Among the teams present, four proudly represent Africa, namely Senegal, Morocco, Burkina Faso and Mali. Each of these teams dreams of becoming the third African country to win gold, joining Nigeria and Ghana on the list.
Does the notable absence of Nigeria, one of the most successful nations in this category, leave the way clear for the Brazilians, title holders and favorites of the competition? Nothing is less certain, because the African teams do not intend to give up and arrive with ambition and hope.
Senegal, reigning African champion, will undoubtedly be one of the big odds. The young Senegalese team will be led by its captain Amara Diouf, top scorer during the CAN U17 with 5 goals. At just 15 years and 94 days old, Diouf is already considered one of the country’s most promising talents. The Lion Cubs of Senegal will enter the competition against Argentina and will then have to face Poland and Japan in Pool D.
Morocco, finalist of the last CAN U17, approaches this World Cup with optimism. They will begin their journey against Panama, followed by the opening match between Indonesia and Ecuador. The talented Moroccan group is driven by the triumphant energy of Moroccan football and hopes to achieve a remarkable performance in the competition.
Mali, for its part, will begin its adventure by facing Uzbekistan, followed by a shock against Spain, then a match against Canada. The Malian team, nicknamed “the Eaglets”, is the most experienced among the African countries, having reached four semi-finals and one final in their six previous appearances.
Finally, Burkina Faso will begin its campaign with a difficult match against France. The little Stallions are grouped in Pool E, alongside South Korea and the United States. Despite the difficulty of this group, Burkina Faso is determined to perform well and defy expectations.
The U17 World Cup takes place every two years and has 24 qualified teams divided into six groups of four. The top two from each group as well as the four best third-place finishers qualify for the knockout stage, consisting of the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match and final.
We look forward to exciting encounters between these young football talents and hope to see new stars emerge who will shine on pitches around the world in the years to come.