U17 World Cup: Mali Stuns, Morocco and Senegal to Play Thursday
The opening day of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, expanded to a 48-nation format, showcased the strength of Africa’s young football talent. Mali delivered a powerful statement with a commanding 3-0 victory over New Zealand in Group L.
- Seydou Dembele, Zoumana Ballo, and Raymond Bomba scored for Mali.
- Egypt set the tone earlier with a 4-1 win against Haiti in Group E, led by a brace from Belal Attia.
- Zambia celebrated a 3-1 triumph over Indonesia in Group H.
- Ivory Coast endured a rough start, falling 4-1 to Switzerland in Group F.
"Mali made a spectacular entrance, defeating New Zealand 3-0 in Group L thanks to goals from Seydou Dembele, Zoumana Ballo, and Raymond Bomba."
Looking ahead to Thursday, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, and Senegal will take to the pitch, aiming for strong debuts or recovery performances after earlier struggles.
This expanded 2025 U-17 World Cup underscores the growing impact of African youth football, with an impressive 10 teams from the continent participating on the global stage.
Author’s Summary
African nations shined on the first day of the 2025 U-17 World Cup, with Mali, Egypt, and Zambia claiming early wins, signaling Africa’s rising power in youth football.