U17 World Cup: Mali Impresses as Morocco and Senegal Prepare for Thursday
The opening day of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, expanded to include 48 nations, saw a strong showing from African teams eager to prove their strength on the global stage.
Mali’s Dominant Debut
Mali delivered a stunning performance, defeating New Zealand 3–0 in Group L. The goals came from Seydou Dembele, Zoumana Ballo, and Raymond Bomba, marking a confident start for the team.
Early Victories for African Sides
Earlier, on November 4, Egypt had set the tone with an emphatic 4–1 win over Haiti in Group E, driven by a double from Belal Attia. Zambia followed with a 3–1 triumph against Indonesia in Group H, while Ivory Coast struggled, falling 4–1 to Switzerland in Group F.
Upcoming African Contenders
On Thursday, more African teams will take the field. Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, and Senegal aim to make their mark in their opening matches or recover from early setbacks, continuing the continent’s promising presence in the tournament.
"This 2025 edition of the U-17 World Cup features 48 teams, including 10 from Africa, demonstrating the vitality of African youth football on the world stage."
Author’s Summary
The 2025 U-17 World Cup began with powerful performances by African teams, highlighting the continent’s growing influence and energy in youth football.