Online Reporter
AFRICA is set to achieve unprecedented representation at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026™, with all 54 FIFA Member Associations from the continent confirmed to participate in the historic youth competition in Azerbaijan.
The tournament, which will run from October 24-30, is open to every FIFA Member Association, regardless of their size, footballing history or previous record in international competitions.
Junior development coach Backlyfield Chivenga will take charge of Zimbabwe’s Young Warriors at the jamboree for which ZIFA used the recently held BancABC Roots Impact Under-14 competition as a selection platform.
For Africa, that decision has created a unique opportunity for every one of the 54 nations to take part on the global stage at the same youth tournament.
The unprecedented participation means traditional African football powerhouses will be joined by nations that have had fewer opportunities to compete regularly at major international youth tournaments.
Among the participating countries are Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, South Africa, Tunisia and DR Congo, alongside emerging and developing football nations from across the continent.
The full list comprises South Africa, Malawi, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Guinea-Bissau, DR Congo, Tunisia, Congo, Morocco, Liberia, Burundi, Ethiopia, Gabon, Lesotho, Angola, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Senegal, Benin, Eswatini, Botswana, Mali, Guinea, Mauritius, Egypt, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Libya, Seychelles, Ghana, Comoros, Tanzania, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Rwanda, Chad, Kenya, Niger, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Togo, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, The Gambia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
The format has been designed specifically to maximise participation and player development.
The competition will be played in an 8v8 format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves.
Teams will first compete in a qualification stage before being placed into six performance tiers according to their results.
Every team will continue playing through to the final matchday, ensuring that participation does not end after an early group-stage exit. — africasoccer.com.
