Kinshasa, April 17th, 2025 (CPA) – Mali and Morocco have been drawn on Saturday at the El Bachir stadium in Mohammedia, Morocco, the organising country, in the final of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (CAN) for under-17s, according to the website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), consulted by CPA on Wednesday. According to the source, the final will take place at 8pm, and the two countries qualified on Tuesday following the semi-final matches of the competition, which is being organised by the Kingdom of Morocco from April 12th to 19th.
Mali beat Burkina Faso 2-0
In the first semi-final between two West African countries, played on Tuesday at the Laarbi Zaouli stadium in Casablanca, the young Eagles of Mali beat the Stallions of Burkina Faso 2-0, with a goal in each half. According to the CAF website, Mali’s attacking midfielder Soumaila Fane (42′) unleashed a shot from the edge of the area that flew in off the underside of the bar. Soumaïla Fane then set up Mahamadou Traore (74′), who doubled his side’s lead with a header from a corner. The Burkinabe who were very brave but not at all decisive tried several times to reverse the trend, but to no avail. With this qualification, the Malians are back at the forefront of this competition, eight years after their last continental title,
Mali outclass Morocco
In Saturday’s final of the 2025 edition of the CAN U17, Mali, one of the most successful countries in the competition with two titles – as many as Nigeria and Cameroon – will be going in search of a 3rd star, after the first two in a row in 2021 and 2017, before being succeeded by Cameroon. Nonetheless, this will be Mali’s 4th final, after their 1997 failure to beat Egypt. On the other hand, the young Atlas Lions of Morocco, the hosts of this competition, will be looking to claim their first continental crown on this circuit. CAN U17 winners: Ghana (1995 and 1999), Egypt (1997), Nigeria (2001 and 2007), Cameroon (2003 and 2019), Gambia (2005), Burkina Faso (2011), Côte d’Ivoire (2013), Mali (2015 and 2017), Gambia (2025 and 2009) and Senegal (2023). The programme for the end of the tournament: Match for 3rd place: Ivory Coast-Burkina Faso, Friday April 18th, 8.00pm, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca. Final: Morocco-Mali, Saturday April 19th, 8.00pm, El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia