Rabat – Morocco U17 opened their UNAF U17 campaign with a 2–0 win over Tunisia U17 on Tuesday in Benghazi, Libya.
The result gives the young Atlas Lions an early advantage in the North African tournament, which serves as qualification for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Morocco took the lead in the 20th minute through Mohamed Habib Znibi, setting the tone early in the game. Tunisia struggled to respond against a well-organized Moroccan side.
The win was sealed in stoppage time, when Rami Lougmani scored in the 90th minute to make it 2–0.
Ibrahim Rabbaj was named Man of the Match by the UNAF technical committee following his standout performance. The Moroccan midfielder impressed throughout the game, playing a key role in his team’s control of the match and overall performance.
Tournament format and stakes
The UNAF U17 Tournament 2026 is being held in Libya from March 24 to April 5, featuring five teams: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.
The competition follows a round-robin format, with each team playing four matches.
The stakes are high, as the top three teams will qualify for the U17 AFCON, which will be hosted by Morocco from April 25 to May 15, 2026. Morocco are already qualified as hosts, but are still competing for top spot in the regional tournament.
Morocco will face Algeria U17 on March 27, before taking on Egypt and Libya in their remaining matches.
With a strong start already secured, the team has put itself in a good position early in the standings as the tournament continues.
