Mali’s Young Eagles land in Dakar for Under-17 qualifying tournament

Mali’s national Under-17 team arrived in Dakar on Thursday, 3 September 2026, to begin their campaign at the UFOA-A tournament, which will determine qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations Under-17.

The Malian delegation touched down at Blaise Diagne International Airport at about 17:00 local time before travelling to their base at the Fleur de Lys hotel in central Dakar.

Mali have been drawn in Group B and will open their tournament against Liberia on Tuesday, 8 September. Their second group fixture will come against Guinea-Bissau on 11 September, with Guinea awaiting them in their final group match on 14 September.

The team will hold its first training session in Senegal on Friday, 4 September. The session is scheduled to begin at 10:00 at Stade municipal de Ngor.

The tournament represents Mali’s route towards the Africa Cup of Nations Under-17, with the young side now settled in Dakar ahead of their opening fixture. Their group schedule will see them face Liberia first, followed by Guinea-Bissau and Guinea over the space of six days.

The players and staff travelled directly from the airport to the hotel after arriving in the Senegalese capital. The Fleur de Lys hotel, located in central Dakar, will serve as the delegation’s headquarters during the competition.

Friday’s training session at Stade municipal de Ngor will be the team’s first opportunity to work on preparations after completing their journey from Mali. The session comes four days before the opening match against Liberia.

Mali’s group campaign will then continue with the meeting with Guinea-Bissau on 11 September before concluding against Guinea on 14 September. Those three matches will decide the team’s progress in the UFOA-A Under-17 tournament and its prospects of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations Under-17.

The Aiglonnets have therefore arrived in Dakar with their full group-stage programme already confirmed. Their immediate focus is on the first training session and the opening match against Liberia, as the qualifying competition gets under way.