The Under-17 Football World Cup begins this Friday, November 10 in Indonesia, and the excitement is at its peak! Four African teams (Senegal, Morocco, Burkina Faso and Mali) have earned their place in the competition and dream of joining Nigeria and Ghana as world champions in the category.
If all eyes were on Nigeria, usually dominant and holder of five titles, this edition is marked by their surprise absence. Eliminated during the U17 CAN, the Nigerians failed to secure their ticket to Indonesia. Does this absence leave the way clear for the Brazilian favorites? Nothing is less certain, because the African teams intend to play spoilsport.
Senegal, reigning African champion, is one of the big odds at this U17 World Cup. With its captain Amara Diouf, top scorer in the CAN with 5 goals, the Senegalese team has serious assets up its sleeve. At just 15 years and 94 days old, Amara Diouf is also the youngest player to have worn the Senegalese national team jersey. In Group D, Senegal will face Argentina, Poland and Japan.
Morocco, finalist of the last CAN U17, enters the competition with confidence and ambition. The Atlas Lion Cubs, carried by the triumphant wind of Moroccan football, are ready to give everything to achieve victory. They will begin their journey by facing Panama, in a match that promises to be thrilling. Mali, for its part, will be on track this Friday against Uzbekistan, before taking on Spain and Canada. With four semi-finals and one final played in their six previous appearances, the Aiglons are the most experienced African team.
Finally, Burkina Faso does not intend to make up the numbers in this competition. They will start strong by facing France before taking on South Korea and the United States in Group E.
The U17 World Cup takes place every two years and brings together 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The top two from each group, along with the four best third-place finishers, will qualify for the knockout stages. The round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, match for third place and final will be the main stages of the competition.
Excitement is at its peak and all eyes are on Indonesia where this edition of the U17 World Cup is taking place. Who will be the world champion? Answer on December 2, the day of the final. In the meantime, let the show begin!