Algeria Football – Against all expectations, CAF listens to a proposal from Algeria on the CAN and decides to apply it from the next edition.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced its intention to increase the number of participants in the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) from 12 to 24 teams from the 2026 edition, this decision follows a proposal presented by the president of the Algerian Football Federation, Walid Sadi, during the Ordinary General Assembly of CAF held in Addis Ababa on October 22 2024.
The Algerian proposal also aims to allocate four qualifying places to the North African Football Union (UNAF) zone, compared to two currently. This approach aligns with reforms recently adopted by FIFA, including the annual organization of the U17 World Cup from 2025, with an increase in the number of participants to 48 teams. This reform now grants ten qualifying places to CAF, compared to only four previously.
President Walid Sadi stressed that maintaining the current format of the U17 CAN with only 12 teams to compete for 10 qualifying tickets to the World Cup would be unfair. An expansion of the tournament would allow more African nations to access the competition, providing an expanded showcase for youth football and strengthening talent development across the continent.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe expressed his support for this initiative, entrusting the file to the Competitions Commission for in-depth study. However, he clarified that the current format would be maintained for the 2025 edition due to organizational constraints.
This reform could mark a significant turning point for African football by providing an increased platform for young talents and encouraging a more inclusive and fair competition. The appointment is therefore made for 2026, where this new format should see the light of day.
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