U17 World Cup Kickoff in Qatar
The expanded 48-nation FIFA U-17 World Cup began with a strong showing from several African teams.
Mali's Impressive Debut
Mali made a remarkable start by defeating New Zealand 3-0 in Group L. Goals were scored by Seydou Dembele, Zoumana Ballo, and Raymond Bomba, securing a confident victory.
Other African Performances on Opening Day
- Egypt dominated Haiti 4-1 in Group E, with Belal Attia scoring twice.
- Zambia won 3-1 against Indonesia in Group H.
- Ivory Coast experienced a tough start, losing 4-1 to Switzerland in Group F.
Upcoming Matches for African Teams
On Thursday, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, and Senegal will compete, aiming to make a strong impression or recover from earlier setbacks.
Significance of the Tournament
This 2025 U-17 World Cup includes 48 teams, with 10 from Africa, highlighting the growing strength of African youth football globally.
"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 has seen promising performances from African teams, with Mali leading strong and others poised to shine in this broad international competition.