Morocco Drawn Against Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya in U17 AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

RABAT – Morocco’s U17 national team will open its campaign for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a North African derby against Algeria after the draw for the Union of North African Football Associations (UNAF) qualifiers was held on Tuesday.

The Moroccan youngsters were drawn alongside Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya in the regional qualifying tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Tunisia in November.

According to the draw published by UNAF, Morocco will face Algeria in its opening match before meeting Egypt in the second round. The Atlas Cubs will then take on hosts Tunisia before concluding their campaign against Libya.

The matches will be played at two venues, the Olympic Stadium of Sousse and Mustapha Ben Jannet Stadium in Monastir.

The tournament carries significant weight, with the top two teams earning qualification for the 2027 U17 AFCON finals.

A demanding start for Morocco

Morocco could hardly have asked for a more competitive opening match, with Algeria standing in its way from the start.

The two sides are familiar opponents at youth level and met during the 2026 UNAF U17 tournament. Morocco produced a convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria during that competition, part of a successful campaign that saw the Moroccan team claim the regional title.

That result will give Morocco confidence heading into the new qualification campaign, although the previous encounter will have little bearing on a new tournament involving a different age group cycle and different circumstances.

The meeting with Algeria will nevertheless be one of the most anticipated games of the qualifying tournament, particularly given the importance of making a strong start in a short regional competition.

Morocco will then face Egypt, another side with considerable experience in African youth football.

Egypt also secured qualification for the 2026 U17 AFCON after finishing among the successful teams from the North African zone.

The Egyptian youth setup has regularly produced players who go on to feature at senior level, making the second match another major test for Morocco.

Tunisia and Libya complete the schedule

Morocco’s third match will come against Tunisia before the team closes its campaign against Libya.

Playing in Tunisia could add another layer of difficulty to the competition, with the hosts benefiting from familiarity with the venues and local conditions.

The final fixture against Libya could also prove important depending on the standings after the opening three rounds.

With only two teams advancing to the continental finals, every point could prove decisive. The format leaves little room for a poor start, particularly when several of the region’s strongest youth sides are competing for the available qualification places.

Morocco building on a strong youth cycle

The upcoming campaign comes at a time when Moroccan youth football has enjoyed several positive results.

Morocco’s U17 side won the 2026 UNAF tournament, defeating Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt during its campaign before finishing at the top of the regional standings.

The achievement added to Morocco’s growing record in youth football and highlighted the depth of talent emerging through the country’s development system.

Morocco also reached the latter stages of the 2026 U17 AFCON, hosted on home soil. The tournament ultimately saw Senegal face Tanzania in the final, while Morocco was among the teams that qualified for the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.

The 2027 qualification campaign will now provide another generation of Moroccan youngsters with an opportunity to make their mark at regional level and compete for a place on the continental stage.

Two places at stake

The objective in Tunisia will be straightforward: finish among the top two teams and secure qualification for the 2027 U17 AFCON.

The five-team format means Morocco will face every other participating nation once. That makes consistency particularly important, as there will be no second chance against any of the four opponents.

The opening clash with Algeria will therefore represent more than a traditional North African derby. It will also be the first step in Morocco’s bid to return to the continental U17 stage.

With Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya waiting after the opening fixture, the Atlas Cubs will need to maintain their focus throughout the tournament.

For a Moroccan generation coming through after a period of strong results at youth level, the November qualifiers will offer another opportunity to demonstrate the country’s growing strength in youth football and secure a place among Africa’s leading U17 sides.