1997 African Youth Championship

The African Youth Championship 1997 was held in Morocco. It also served as qualification for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.

First round
First round matches took place on 28-29 September and 19-20 October 1996. Togo and Malawi withdrew and Burundi was suspended by CAF following a coup d'état.

Second round
Round two matches took place on 21-22 December 1996 and 3-5 January 1997.

Teams
Last year's finalists Burundi were disqualified in the qualifying tournament. Eight teams entered the tournament:


 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)

Group A
Group A matches took place on 23, 25 and 27 March 1997.

Group B
Group B matches took place on 24, 26 and 28 March 1997.

Qualification to World Youth Championship
The four best performing teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.