Somalia Secures First Africa Cup Of Nations U-17 Qualification

Somalia have qualified for Africa Cup of Nations U-17 championship for the first time ever after beating Uganda 8-7 on penalties in the Cecafa region semi-final tie.

Both teams had played to a 1-1 draw in normal time with Hakim Wandera having broken the deadlock for Uganda on the 43^rd minute before Abdi found the equalizer for Somalia on the stroke of halftime.

Uganda were the reigning champions of the CECAFA U-17 Championship, having defeated Tanzania in the finals played in 2020 in Rwanda.

Somalia  joins hosts South Sudan as the two ambassadors from the CECAFA region that will play at the 2019 AFCON U-17 championship.

South Sudan made it to Algeria after defeating  Tanzania 4-3 on penalties  after a one-all stalemate in the other semi-final played on Wednesday.

The 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations will be the 15th edition (20th edition if tournaments without hosts are included).

The biennial international youth football tournament is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for players aged 17 and below. In May 2021, it was decided that the tournament would be hosted by Algeria.

This is the second edition of the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations to have expanded to twelve teams instead of eight.

The top four teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru as the CAF representatives.

Cameroon are the defending champions, having won the 2019 edition as the 2021 edition was cancelled.