South Africa edge closer to the knockout stage, Senegal bounces back, and North African sides face uphill battles as the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup group stage heats up.
South Africa Edge Closer to Knockout Qualification
South Africa were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar on Thursday, a result that still boosted their chances of advancing to the knockout stage after their 3-1 victory over Bolivia in their opening match at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Amajita now sit second in their group with four points, behind leaders Italy, who have six points from two games. Qatar are third with one point, while Bolivia anchor the group without a point. South Africa will conclude their group stage campaign against Italy, with a draw enough to see them through to the next round.
Morocco on the Brink of Elimination
Morocco are facing the prospect of an early exit after losing their second consecutive Group B match. They opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Japan before suffering a heavy 6-0 loss to Portugal on Thursday.
The North Africans are bottom of the group with no points, while Portugal lead with six, Japan follow with four, and New Caledonia sit third with one point. Morocco must win their final group game on Sunday to have any chance of staying in the competition.
Senegal Back in Contention
Senegal revived their knockout stage hopes with a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in their second match, following a goalless draw against Croatia in their opener.
The Teranga Cubs are now second in Group C with four points, level with Croatia. Costa Rica are third with one point, while the United Arab Emirates also sit on a single point. Senegal will face the UAE in their final group stage match.
Tunisia Slip to Third After Argentina Defeat
Tunisia suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Argentina in their second game after an emphatic 6-0 win in their opening match.
The Carthage Cubs now occupy third place in their group with three points, behind leaders Argentina with six and Belgium, who also have three points but a better goal difference.
Egypt and Ivory Coast Eye Key Results
In Group E, Egypt will look to maintain their lead after a convincing 4-1 win over Haiti when it faces Venezuela today.
Ivory Coast, on the other hand, will be hoping for a response after their 4-1 loss to Switzerland in the opener. They face Mexico in a must-win encounter to keep their hopes alive.
Zambia and Mali in Pole Position
Zambia and Mali are both well-placed to reach the knockout stages after impressive starts. The Young Chipolopolo will take on Honduras, while Mali faces Austria following their commanding wins over Indonesia (3-1) and New Zealand (3-0), respectively.
