By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – The North African Football Union (UNAF) qualifiers will get underway on Thursday, 24 September, following the draw on Wednesday, August 26, in which Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Morocco were placed into a tightly contested round-robin tournament.
The qualifiers will be staged in Egypt from 24 September to 6 October, with matches taking place at the Suez Canal Stadium and Ismailia Stadium. Most of the fixtures will be played at the Suez Canal Stadium, while Ismailia Stadium will host one match on the final day.
The tournament opens on 24 September with a heavyweight encounter between Algeria and Tunisia at the Suez Canal Stadium. Hosts Egypt will then face Libya at the same venue, while Morocco will sit out the opening round.
The second round is scheduled for 27 September, with Libya taking on Algeria and Tunisia meeting Morocco. Egypt will have a bye. Egypt return to action on 30 September against Tunisia in the third round, while Morocco face Algeria. Libya will sit out that round.
The fourth round on 3 October will see Tunisia play Libya before Egypt take on Morocco at the Suez Canal Stadium. Algeria will have the day off. The qualifying tournament concludes on 6 October with two matches being played simultaneously.
Libya will face Morocco at Ismailia Stadium, while Algeria will meet hosts Egypt at the Suez Canal Stadium. Tunisia will have a bye in the final round. The regional competition has regularly produced intense contests between the five nations. The final standings will decide which nation secures qualification for the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana 2027.
