Africa will have four teams competing for divisional honours on the final day of the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan, with Tunisia, Zambia, the Central African Republic and Ethiopia all reaching their respective finals.

The Senegal have been eliminated at the semi-final stage, while Morocco and Algeria suffered contrasting results in the Division A classification matches on Thursday.

The inaugural global U15 tournament is entering its final stage in Baku. No African team can now win the overall world title, which is contested in Division A, but four sides from the continent can still claim divisional trophies in Friday’s finals at Crystal Hall.

Tunisia have continued their impressive run in Division C. After thrashing Thailand 5-0 in the group stage, the young Carthage Eagles defeated France 5-3 in the quarter-finals before producing another strong display to beat Luxembourg 3-0 in the last four.

They will face Belarus in the Division C final, with the chance to finish their campaign with silverware.

Zambia will represent Africa in the Division B final after edging a thrilling semi-final against Senegal 4-3. The Young Lions of Teranga had previously recorded emphatic victories over Costa Rica, winning 6-1, and Madagascar, winning 4-0, but were unable to overcome their continental rivals.

The Central African Republic also secured a place in a final in Division E after overcoming Chad on penalties. They will meet Bangladesh, taking the number of African finalists to three before Ethiopia completed the line-up by reaching the Division F final against New Zealand.

Mixed fortunes for North African sides

Morocco ended a difficult sequence in the Division A classification matches by beating Venezuela 4-3.

The result lifted the Atlas Lions after consecutive defeats by Paraguay, who ended their title hopes with a 1-0 victory, and Mexico, who won 3-0. Morocco had made an impressive start to the tournament before those setbacks.

Algeria experienced the opposite pattern. Following a heavy 4-1 defeat by Albania, the side managed by Karim Ziani responded with a 2-1 win over Estonia, only to lose 4-3 against Kenya in their next match.

Cameroon were beaten again, losing to Ireland on penalties after a 4-4 draw, with Ireland prevailing 6-5 in the shootout.

Elsewhere in Division B, Cote d'Ivoire defeated South Africa 4-3 after previously beating South Sudan 2-1. Mali recovered from a 2-0 loss against Niger by recording a 5-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates.

In Division D, the Democratic Republic of the Congo responded to a 4-0 defeat by Somalia by beating Burundi 4-1.

Friday’s final round will give Tunisia, Zambia, the Central African Republic and Ethiopia the opportunity to end the tournament as divisional champions.