RABAT — Egypt U-17 national team, led by coach Ahmed el-Kass, has clinched the North Africa Championship title, earning a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations U-17 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
In the final match of the qualifiers in Morocco, the young Pharaohs secured a remarkable 7-1 triumph over Libya.
The goals came from Hamza Abdel Karim and Mohamed Hamad, who each scored twice, and Bilal Attia, who netted a hat-trick.
This achievement marks Egypt’s first qualification for the tournament since 2011, ending a 14-year absence.
The team’s last appearance in the ACN U-17 was in 2011, where they exited in the group stage.
The young Pharaohs finished the North Africa qualifiers in first place with 9 points, demonstrating resilience after their initial loss. Alongside second-placed Morocco which secured 8 points.
Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi congratulated the U-17 team on their qualification, emphasizing the Egyptian state’s unwavering support for youth teams at all levels.
Sobhi highlighted their role in enhancing Egyptian football and reaffirmed the country’s goal of reclaiming its leadership in African football.
The Egyptian Football Association celebrated the victory on its official Facebook page, posting: “Egypt’s national team is the champion of the North Africa Championship, qualifying for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.”
In the North African qualifiers, held in Morocco from November 11 to 23, the young Pharaohs displayed resilience and determination on their path to securing a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations U-17 tournament.
The competition featured five teams—Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco—with the top two advancing to the continental championship.
In the first round, Egypt endured a heavy 5-1 loss to Morocco, while Tunisia defeated Algeria 1-0.
In the second round, the young Pharaohs bounced back with a 2-1 win over Algeria, and Tunisia secured a similar 2-1 victory over Libya.
In the third round, Algeria narrowly defeated Libya 3-2, while Morocco and Tunisia played out a 2-2 draw.
In the fourth round, Egypt triumphed over Tunisia with a hard-fought 3-2 win, and Morocco bested Libya 2-0.
In the fifth and final round, Egypt delivered a commanding 7-1 victory against Libya, and Morocco drew 1-1 with Algeria.
This strong finish secured Egypt’s qualification alongside Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations U-17 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
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