Algeria U17s Book AFCON Spot With Late Win Over Egypt in Benghazi
Algeria’s under-17 team just punched their ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations — and they did it by beating Egypt 1-0 in a tense, high-stakes qualifier in Benghazi. It wasn’t flashy, but it was decisive: Abdelrahman Zawi scored in the 47th minute, right after halftime, and that single goal held up. No extra drama, no late equaliser — just clean, clinical football when it mattered most.
This wasn’t just another friendly. It was the final match of the North African Football Union (NAFU) qualifying tournament — a compact five-team mini-league hosted by Libya from March 24 to April 5. Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and host Libya all played each other once. The top three finishers would earn direct qualification to the AFCON U17 finals in Morocco later this month.
What the Result Actually Means for Algeria
The win pushed Algeria to 7 points — second place behind Morocco, who topped the table with 9. Egypt finished third on 6 points, also qualifying. Tunisia came fourth with 3 points, and Libya — as hosts — ended last with 0. So yes, Algeria didn’t just qualify: they outperformed Egypt head-to-head, which matters for seeding and confidence heading into the main tournament.
Morocco’s dominance was clear — they won all three matches, including a 2-0 win over Algeria earlier in the tournament. But Algeria bounced back hard: they beat Tunisia 2-1 and then sealed it against Egypt. That resilience — especially after losing to the hosts — shows real tactical growth and mental toughness in a young squad.
The Algerian FA has been quietly rebuilding its youth pipeline over the past two years. This group isn’t full of household names yet, but Zawi — who scored the winner — is already being tracked by scouts from Ligue 1 academies. He’s not the only one: goalkeeper Yassine Belkacem made four key saves against Egypt, including a sharp stop from a free kick in the 82nd minute. His distribution from the back also helped spark two dangerous counters.
How the NAFU Tournament Worked (and Why It Mattered)
This wasn’t a standalone event — it was a formal regional qualifier sanctioned by CAF. Unlike some ad-hoc friendlies, these results count toward official AFCON U17 qualification records. And because it featured five competitive national teams in a tight window, it doubled as both a test and a tuning session ahead of the bigger stage.
Here’s how the final NAFU standings broke down:
- Morocco: 9 pts (W3)
- Algeria: 7 pts (W2, L1)
- Egypt: 6 pts (W2, L1)
- Tunisia: 3 pts (W1, L2)
- Libya: 0 pts (L3)
All three qualifiers — Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt — will now join 13 other nations in the 16-team AFCON U17 finals in Morocco (April 25–May 15). That includes heavyweights like Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa — plus surprise qualifiers like Botswana and Rwanda.
What’s Next for Algeria’s U17s?
They’ll fly to Morocco in the coming days for final preparations. Their opening AFCON match is scheduled for April 26 against either Guinea or Zambia — the draw hasn’t been confirmed publicly yet, but CAF will announce fixtures soon. Coach Hichem Boulahya has said publicly that his priority is “structure first, flair second” — meaning defensive discipline, set-piece execution, and transition speed are non-negotiables.
Training sessions have already shifted focus: more small-sided games under fatigue, more video review of opponent pressing triggers, and daily work on restarts. Zawi’s goal came off a well-rehearsed corner routine — something the staff drilled twice a week in camp. That kind of detail separates contenders from also-rans at this level.
There’s no sugarcoating it: Algeria hasn’t reached the semifinals of the U17 AFCON since 2013. Their best recent finish was fourth in 2019. But this current crop is physically stronger, tactically sharper, and more cohesive than previous squads. They’re not relying on one star — they’re built around collective movement and intelligent spacing.
Key takeaways
- Algeria U17 qualified for the 2026 AFCON U17 finals in Morocco with a 1-0 win over Egypt in Benghazi.
- Abdelrahman Zawi scored the decisive goal in the 47th minute — part of a disciplined, counter-structured game plan.
- Algeria finished second in the NAFU qualifier behind Morocco (9 pts), ahead of Egypt (6 pts); all three advanced.
- The tournament served as an official CAF-sanctioned qualifier — not just a friendly series — adding weight to the result.
- Algeria’s youth setup is showing tangible progress: better fitness, smarter transitions, and more consistent set-piece execution.
This isn’t about hype or headlines. It’s about a group of 16- and 17-year-olds executing a plan, staying calm under pressure, and earning their place among Africa’s best. No flukes, no favours — just football done right. The AFCON stage is waiting. Now it’s time to see if they can go deeper than round one.
— Editorial Team
