CAF U17 AFCON: Confusion Hits Africa As CAF Keep Mute On FIFA U17 World Cup Slots

CAF U17 AFCON: Confusion Hits Africa As CAF Keep Mute On FIFA U17 World Cup Slots

By Niyi Busari

There has been confusion in Africa as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has remained silent on the allocation of 10 slots for the continent in the FIFA U17 World Cup, BSNSports.com.mg can report.

Rising from its congress, FIFA announced that 48 countries will participate in the next FIFA U17 World Cup in 2025 and increased the slots allocated to Africa from four to ten. 

Since the announcement, the African Football ruling body has not come out to explain how the ten participating countries will emerge.

The 2024 WAFU B U-17 host, Ghana and the defending champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria were defeated in the semi-final of the competition by Burkina Faso and Cote D'Ivoire respectively. Before the increment in the slots, Ghana and Nigeria are out of the CAF U17 African Nations Cup but lack of clarity has left many African Football associations and fans in limbo, unsure of how many teams will qualify from the regional U17 competitions to the prestigious youth tournament. The clarity is essential as countries that will represent Africa at the FIFA U17 World Cup pick tickets from the CAF U17 AFCON.

www.bsnsports.com.ng in an exclusive interview with top official of the NFF on Sunday morning showed that Nigeria don't know if the Golden Eaglets will participate in the 2025 U17 AFCON or not.

"Yes, FIFA allocated ten slots to Africa at the FIFA U17 World Cup but since the increment from four was announced, CAF till now has not explain how the ten teams will emerge. As Golden Eaglets are unable to qualify for the final of the WAFU B U-17 competition, we are in confusion as to whether or not we would play at the CAF U17 AFCON." The top NFF official who pleaded anonymity said.