U17 World Cup: The 4 most prolific African starlets of the tournamentFoot AfricaTue, November 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM UTC·1 min readThe 4 most prolific African starlets at the U17 World Cup
Dembelé/@CAF
Several African prodigies made a lasting impression during the U17 World Cup.
Africa's overall performance at the U17 World Cup was rather average, with none of the continent's representatives managing to reach the tournament's final four.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBelow are the four most prolific African players at the premier youth competition.
Seydou Dembélé
The Malian midfielder found the net twice and provided four assists in five matches played during the tournament.
A product of the JMG Academy in Bamako, he is already on the radar of several European giants eager to sign him once he comes of age.
Ziyad Baha
The Moroccan striker scored four goals in six matches, including a crucial strike in the quarterfinals against Brazil.
Across 29 appearances for Morocco's U17 national team in all competitions, Ziyad Baha has netted 17 goals.
Ismail El Aoud
The Moroccan winger bagged four goals and registered one assist in six matches at the U17 World Cup.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter spells at UD Amistad de Zaragoza and SD Huesca, Ismail El Aoud joined Valencia as a free agent in 2024.
Muhammad Zongo
The Burkinabé forward scored two goals and provided three assists in six matches at the tournament.
At just 15 years old, Muhammad Zongo is not expected to stay long at his current club, Football Sportif des Cascades Tenakourou.
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