Tanzania delivered a composed and dominant performance to secure an emphatic 3-0 victory over Mozambique in their opening Group match at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 on Thursday, May 14th, 2026.
Right from kickoff, Tanzania showed attacking intent by quickly taking control of possession. With an energetic midfield and rapid transitions, they repeatedly exposed a Mozambican defense that struggled to cope with the pace of the Tanzanian attack.
After several dangerous moments, Tanzania finally broke the deadlock in the 27th minute. Well-positioned inside the box, Dismas Athanasi finished calmly to reward his team’s dominance and put the East Africans ahead.
Tanzania increased the pressure and doubled their advantage before halftime. In the 35th minute, Pascoal Miambo, under pressure inside his own area, accidentally turned the ball into his own net, leaving Mozambique with a mountain to climb at 2-0 down.
Taking advantage of the spaces left behind, the Taifa Stars sealed the win in the 63rd minute through Razaki Mbegelendi, who finished off a well-worked team move.
Comfortable and composed until the final whistle, Tanzania secured a commanding victory.
1 Senegal South Africa 2
A spirited South Africa came from behind to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Senegal on Thursday afternoon to secure an important opening victory.
It was the West Africans who imposed themselves from the opening whistle as they pinned Amajimbos in their own half.
They broke the deadlock in the 44th minute after Cheickh Thior reacted to a loose ball inside the box to give his side a deserved lead heading into the break.
Just three minutes after the restart, Inganathi Simama levelled the score with a precise finish that caught the Senegalese defense off guard. The goal completely shifted the momentum of the match.
Under pressure, Senegal attempted to regain control, but fortune favored South Africa in the 55th minute. Following a chaotic situation inside the penalty area, Cheickh Thior inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. After taking the lead, South Africa showed great defensive resilience to hold off Senegal’s late attempts and secure the victory.
Angola 0 Mali 0
Angola produced a disciplined defensive performance to hold former finalists Mali to a goalless draw in their opening Group C match at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 on Thursday.
The tightly contested encounter saw Mali dominate large periods of the match and create the better chances, but Angola goalkeeper Gelson Dala delivered a series of outstanding saves to secure a valuable point for his side at the Mohammed VI Football Complex.
Dala’s heroic display earned him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award after frustrating the Malian attack throughout the afternoon.
Mali, runners-up in the previous edition, started brightly and attempted to impose themselves through their fluid passing and attacking movement, but Angola remained organised defensively and difficult to break down.
The West Africans continued to push forward after the break, creating several dangerous openings as they searched for a breakthrough, but poor finishing combined with Angola’s resilient defending kept the score level.
Angola gradually grew in confidence as the match progressed and threatened occasionally on the counterattack, though clear-cut opportunities remained limited.
Despite Mali’s dominance in possession and territory, Angola’s defensive discipline and Dala’s commanding performance between the posts ensured the Southern Africans claimed an important point in a competitive Group C.
The result leaves both teams with one point ahead of their second group matches as the race for the quarter-finals and FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification places intensifies in Morocco.
Algeria 2-2 Ghana
Algeria and Ghana played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in a match filled with intensity and dramatic twists. Ghana made the perfect start, taking the lead as early as the 6th minute through Isaac Barfo. Capitalizing on a lapse in concentration from the Algerian defense, he finished off a quick attacking move to put his side ahead.
Just minutes later, Eric Gyamfi doubled Ghana’s advantage in the 11th minute, capping off a dominant opening spell for the Black Starlets. Trailing 2-0 after only eleven minutes, Algeria looked in serious trouble against a Ghanaian side that was sharper, more aggressive, and highly effective going forward.
Much more adventurous in the second half, Algeria increased the pressure in search of a way back into the contest.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 58th minute when Ilyes Grini pulled one back with a fine finish following a well-worked team move. The goal completely reignited the match and restored belief within the Algerian side.
Just two minutes later, Melwane Zaidi brought Algeria level, taking advantage of hesitation in the Ghanaian defense to make it 2-2. In the space of only a few minutes, Algeria completed an impressive comeback after being two goals down early in the game.
