Gambia and Somalia will face off in their second Group C match at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025, hoping to recover from their opening-round defeats. The match is set for Friday in El Jadida at 14:00 local time (GMT).
This marks the first-ever meeting between the two nations at the U-17 AFCON. For Gambia, Somalia becomes the 13th different country they have faced at the tournament. Meanwhile, Somalia is encountering a former champion for the first time, having previously played against Senegal before they won the title.
Gambia’s Tournament Record
Gambia lost their opening game 1-0 to Senegal, marking their second consecutive opening-match defeat at the U-17 AFCON.
Historically, Gambia has never lost both of their first two group games in any of their previous four tournament appearances.
Their second-group-match record is strong: 3 wins and 1 loss in previous tournaments.
They have won their second group game in their last three appearances (2005, 2009, and 2011), with victories over Mali, Cameroon, and Mali again.
Against Senegal, Gambia managed just 143 completed passes compared to their opponent’s 325. Despite this, they only allowed one shot on target, which resulted in the winning goal.
Somalia’s Tournament Performance
Somalia suffered a 3-0 defeat against Tunisia in their opening game, mirroring their loss to Senegal in their final group match of the 2023 edition.
They remain winless in U-17 AFCON history, with one draw and three losses.
Their only point at the tournament came in 2023, when they drew 1-1 against Congo in their second match. That game also marks the only time Somalia has scored in the competition.
Their goalkeeper, Abdiasis Ahmed, made four saves against Tunisia, facing seven shots on target.
Both teams are desperate for a positive result to keep their hopes alive in the competition. While Gambia seeks to maintain their tradition of earning at least one group-stage victory, Somalia is chasing their first-ever tournament win.
