Cameroon, Ivory Coast seal 2026 U-17 World Cup qualification after crucial AFCON victories

Cameroon and Ivory Coast have officially secured their places at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar after both nations recorded decisive victories on Tuesday in the final round of Group B matches at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The two West and Central African powerhouses finished the group stage strongly to confirm progression to the global tournament, while also underlining their status among the continent’s rising football forces at youth level.

Ivory Coast booked qualification after edging Uganda 2-1 in a tense and hard-fought encounter.

With the match seemingly heading toward a draw, Souleymane Kone struck in the 78th minute to hand the Young Elephants all three points. The goal initially sparked controversy after the assistant referee raised the offside flag, but a review showed that a Ugandan defender had played the ball into Kone’s path, allowing the goal to stand.

The victory capped an impressive group-stage campaign for the Ivorians, who showed resilience against a determined Ugandan side that had caused problems throughout the tournament despite ultimately falling short.

For Uganda’s Cubs, the defeat was another painful narrow loss following their earlier setback against Cameroon. However, their World Cup hopes remain alive after finishing third in the group. Uganda will now face the third-placed team from Group D — which includes Algeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Ghana — in a decisive playoff for a place in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Cameroon confirmed second place in Group B with a disciplined 1-0 victory over regional rivals Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Although the contest lacked flair for long periods, the Young Indomitable Lions delivered when it mattered most. Deep into first-half stoppage time, a quickly taken free kick created confusion inside the Congolese penalty area before Oumar Tsombeng reacted quickest to fire home the rebound and score the only goal of the match.

The win ensured Cameroon joined Ivory Coast as Group B’s automatic qualifiers for the expanded FIFA U-17 World Cup set to take place in Qatar later this year.

Attention at the tournament now shifts to Group A, where Morocco and Egypt meet in a top-of-the-table showdown, while Tunisia face Ethiopia in another crucial encounter as the race for qualification continues.