Epidemiological Data on Injury and Illness Among Male U-17 Youth Football Players During Africa cup of nation UNAF Qualifiers competition at Benghazi 21 March to 5th of April 2026

Abstract

Background: Football is the most popular sport globally, yet injury epidemiology data for youth players in Africa remain scarce. This study documents injury and illness patterns among male U-17 football players during the UNAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers in Benghazi, Libya.

Objective: To prospectively describe the epidemiology of injuries and illnesses sustained during training and matches across five North African national teams (Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco).

Methods: This prospective descriptive study was conducted during the UNAF U-17 tournament (21 March–5 April 2026). Data were collected using standardized injury surveillance forms distributed to team physicians, following IOC consensus definitions (Bahr et al., 2020). Each team played four round-robin matches and completed ten training sessions over 16 days. Injury incidence was calculated per 1,000 hours of exposure (match and training separately), and illness incidence per 365 player-days. Severity was classified using IOC consensus categories.

Results: Among 125 players, 16 injuries and 2 illnesses were documented. The overall injury incidence was 6.10 per 1,000 hours (match: 14.67/1,000h; training: 2.67/1,000h; ratio 5.5:1). Lower limb injuries predominated (75.0%), with thigh pathologies comprising 31.3% of all injuries. Contact mechanisms accounted for 62.5% of injuries. Most injuries were mild (68.8%), though one severe meniscal tear required 29 days of rehabilitation. Tunisia demonstrated a disproportionate burden, accounting for 43.8% of injuries and 100% of illnesses despite representing 20% of players. Illness incidence was 0.36 per 365 player-days.

Conclusion: Match play carries substantially higher injury risk than training in U-17 North African football. The marked inter-team variation highlights the importance of standardized surveillance and targeted prevention strategies, including neuromuscular conditioning and protective equipment enforcement, to promote safer youth participation in international tournaments.