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Somalia’s young footballers are on the verge of another historic milestone as they prepare for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 draw on February 13. The draw, set to take place at CAF headquarters in Cairo at 13:45 local time (11:45 GMT), marks another step in Somalia’s growing football journey.
For a nation where political and security challenges have long shaped sports, Somalia’s continued presence in African football is a symbol of resilience and progress. The U-17 squad secured qualification for AFCON 2025 by finishing third in the CECAFA U-17 Zonal Qualifiers, earning a second consecutive tournament appearance. This achievement brings them closer to an even bigger stage—the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, where a record 10 African teams will compete from November 5 to 27, 2025.
Football has deep roots in Somalia, dating back to the 1940s when it was intertwined with the nationalist movement against colonial rule. Despite the Somali Football Federation (SFF) being established in 1951, the country’s football ambitions were stalled by decades of instability. However, a turning point came in 2022 when Somalia’s U-17 team won its first-ever CECAFA U-17 Championship, defeating South Sudan 3-1 in the final. This victory earned them a historic debut at the 2023 U-17 AFCON in Algeria.
Though they exited in the group stage, the young Blue Stars made history by securing a point in a competitive 1-1 draw against Congo. The achievement was widely celebrated, with head coach Nur Mohamed Amin calling it “a proud moment for Somali football.” Fans and officials alike saw it as a step toward rebuilding the country’s football reputation on the continental stage.
AFCON 2025, scheduled from March 30 to April 19, will feature an expanded format with 16 teams. Four teams have been pre-seeded based on their 2023 performances: Morocco as the host (placed in Group A1), Senegal as defending champions (C1), Burkina Faso (B1), and Mali (D1). The remaining 12 teams, including Somalia, will be drawn into four pots to determine group placements.
Somalia’s placement in Pot 1 alongside Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, UNIFFAC 1, UNIFFAC 2, and Zambia means they will avoid facing these teams in the group stage. The tournament format will see the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, automatically qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Additionally, two more teams will secure World Cup spots through a playoff among the third-placed teams.
The complete list of qualified teams for U-17 AFCON 2025 includes Morocco, Angola, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Mali, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, UNIFFAC 1 (TBD), UNIFFAC 2 (TBD), and Zambia. Former Mali international Adama Coulibaly and Senegalese legend Souleymane Camara will assist with the live draw, which will be broadcast on CAF TV.
For Somalia, back-to-back AFCON appearances signal the emergence of a new era for youth football. The opportunity to compete at this level provides invaluable experience for the young players and paves the way for long-term development in Somali football. With growing international exposure and a rising generation of talent, Somali football fans, both at home and across the global diaspora, are eagerly awaiting the draw to see who their team will face on the grand stage.
The journey from political turmoil to sporting recognition has been long, but Somalia’s U-17 squad is proving that with perseverance, success is within reach. As the anticipation builds for AFCON 2025, hopes are high that these young footballers will take another step toward solidifying Somalia’s presence in international football.