2027 U20 AFCON: Egypt vs. Algeria in Ismailia for the final North African ticket
Egypt and Algeria will meet on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia for the second and final North African ticket to the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Ghana. The two teams do not approach this encounter with the same leverage: a draw would be enough for the Pharaohs, while the Greens have only one option: victory.
This Union of North African Football Federations (UNAF) tournament brings together five teams—Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia—in a mini-league format played in Egypt. Only the top two secure their spot for the final tournament, which will feature twelve nations in Ghana, according to Foot Afrique.
Morocco has already punched its ticket
The Atlas Lion Cubs settled their business on October 3, 2026, by defeating Egypt 2-0, thanks to Adam Baallal in the 25th minute and Sami Bouhoudane in the 33rd. With seven points, Morocco is guaranteed first place and a trip to Ghana.
Behind them, Egypt has six points and Algeria has four, according to the standings published by Onze d'Afrik and Foot Afrique. Tunisia, which finished its campaign without a single win, is eliminated, as is Libya.
The Greens pay for their missed match against Morocco
The Algerian campaign tells a story of missed opportunities: a 1-1 draw against Tunisia on September 24, 2026, a 3-1 victory over Libya on September 27, and then a 1-3 defeat to Morocco on September 30. Having been exempt during the fourth matchday, Hocine El Orfi's players now find themselves forced to win on Egyptian soil, in front of the Ismailia crowd.
Egypt, for its part, beat Libya 2-0 and then Tunisia 2-1 before falling to Morocco. The Pharaohs have shown they know how to manage tight matches, a significant asset when a single point is enough.
A showcase for the 2027 generation
The final matchday also features a Morocco-Libya game that carries no mathematical stakes for the Atlas Lion Cubs. However, it is in Ismailia that the main event will take place.
Beyond the ticket itself, these qualifiers serve as a talent market: for decades, the U20 AFCON has served as a launchpad for African senior national teams and European scouts. For both Algeria and Egypt, elimination at this stage would mean depriving an entire generation of its first major continental competition.
This article was written in French with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited below, then translated from French automatically. Read the original.
