With Nigeria missing from the 2025 CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations, the country missed an opportunity for its players to be seen by the top football scouts in attendance.
Sources have told Soccernet.ng that many of the leading Premier League clubs, like Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, plus Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, all sent scouts to the tournament in Morocco.
Morocco defeated Mali via penalties to lift the title on home soil, but many young players shone brightly throughout the tournament.
No place like home, right? Hosts Morocco are your #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 winners! pic.twitter.com/JP3nddsiMN
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) April 19, 2025
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Soccernet profiles some of the top-rated players that could be on the books of European clubs and in senior national teams in the next few years.
Jonathan Kalimina – Zambia
Position: Left Back
Born: 24.11.2008
A left back who can also play as a centre back and was captain of Zambia U17. Kalimina plays for Kafue Celtics FC in his home country and comes from the same academy as Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu. He is a future gem for the senior Zambian national team.
Hamza Abdelkerem – Egypt
Position: Centre-Forward
Born 01.01.2008.
Abdelkerem plays for Cairo giants Al Ahly FC. He is a Robert Lewandoski type of player who links-up play with the midfielders. Much is expected of this lad who could be a part of the senior Pharaohs in future.
Asharaf Lookman Tapsoba – Burkina Faso
Position: Striker
Born: 24.11.2008
A Sergio Aguero-type of player, he is one of the youngest players of the tournament. Tapsoba plays for Real Du Faso. He was the top goal scorer at the U17 West Africa Football Union (WAFU) tournament in Ghana in May 2024. He reenacted the feat by finishing as joint top scorer in Morocco with seven goals as he led Burkina Faso to the semi-finals.
Emile Witbooi – South Africa
Posiiton: Attacking Midfielder
Born: 29.08.2008
Pint-sized like Lionel Messi, but an excellent player who is the focal player for South Africa. Witbooi plays for Cape Town City and will be an important player for Bafana Bafana in the near future.
Ilies Belmokhtar – Morocco
Position: Centre-Forward
Born: 12.05.2008
He is a player who has a similar playing style to Egyptian great Mohamed Salah. Belmokhtar plays for AS Monaco in France. Morocco are happy to have such a promising talent in their collective, many of them born abroad but choosing early to commit to their homeland.
Adama Some – Cote d’Ivoire
Position: Centre midfielder
Born: 22.01.2009
The engine that controls midfield for Ivory Coast, Some, is a player like Arsenal star Declan Rice. He plays for the ISCA Academy in his home country and is expected to make the big step up soon.
Alynho Haidara – Burkina Faso
Position: Centre-Forward
Born: 26.07.2008
A Didier Drogba type of player, he was one of the best centre-forwards at the U17 AFCON tournament alongside Burkina Faso's Tapsoba. Both Haidara and Tapsoba shared the Golden Boot with seven goals each. He plays for an academy in Ivory Coast that has a partnership with FC Mainz in Germany, but the player was listed at the tournament under FC Mainz 05 of Ivory Coast.
Mohamed Junior Sako
Position: Box-to-box midfielder
Born: 14.01.2009
Sako is a Carlos Baleba-type of player who has similar playing attributes.
He was the engine of the Burkina Faso team, helping them to win all three of their group matches and reach the semi-finals. He plays for Basga JO Academy in Burkina Faso.
Abdellah Ouazane – Morocco
Position: Midfielder
Born: January 15, 2009
After a remarkable performance, he’s here to be the Man of the Competition! #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/6j1BOLYvsU
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) April 19, 2025
Named player of the tournament, Ouazane was the stand out player for Morocco’s title winning side. He is rated for his ability to dictate and control pace of matches as well as his key decision making. He plays for Ajax Amsterdam.
