U17 World Cup: African Teams Shine on Opening Day
The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025, hosted in Qatar with an expanded format featuring 48 nations, saw strong performances from several African teams right from the start.
Mali’s Impressive Debut
Mali stunned spectators with a commanding 3-0 win over New Zealand in Group L. The victory was secured by goals from Seydou Dembele, Zoumana Ballo, and Raymond Bomba.
African Teams’ Results Overview
- On November 4, Egypt triumphed 4-1 against Haiti in Group E, highlighted by a brace from Belal Attia.
- Zambia achieved a 3-1 win over Indonesia in Group H.
- Ivory Coast encountered a tough start, falling 4-1 to Switzerland in Group F.
Upcoming Matches
On Thursday, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, and Senegal will compete, eager to make an impact or recover from earlier setbacks.
Context of the Tournament
This 2025 edition includes 48 teams, with 10 representing Africa, underscoring the continent’s growing prominence in youth football globally.
“This 2025 edition of the U-17 World Cup features 48 teams, including 10 from Africa, demonstrating the vitality of African youth football on the world stage.”
Author’s summary: African teams have started the U17 World Cup strongly, with Mali’s 3-0 win and several key performances highlighting the continent’s rising youth talent in the 48-nation tournament.