U17 AFCON 2026: Black Starlets to Discover AFCON Opponents in Cairo Draw On Wednesday

The Black Starlets will learn their group stage opponents for the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations when the draw is held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Cairo. The event will take place at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at 16:00 GMT.

The tournament itself will be staged in Morocco from May 13 to June 2, 2026, bringing together the best 16 youth teams across the continent to compete for Africa’s prestigious U17 title.

The Starlets booked their place in the competition after finishing second at the 2025 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship held in Ivory Coast. The achievement marked a significant return for the Black Starlets, who had missed out on the continental showpiece since 2017.

The upcoming tournament will also serve as a pathway to the global stage. All eight quarter-finalists will automatically qualify for the next edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, while two additional best third-placed teams will join them to complete Africa’s ten representatives at the tournament.

The draw in Cairo is expected to set the tone for Ghana’s campaign as the team intensifies preparations with the ambition of returning to the global stage and restoring the nation’s proud tradition in youth football.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS