Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE is strengthening its reputation as a preferred host for junior football tournaments after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the country will stage the 2026 African Schools Football Championship Finals.
The tournament will run from April 2 to April 10 in Harare.
Now in its fourth edition, the competition is Africa’s flagship schools football programme and has attracted more than three million participants since its launch in 2022.
Zimbabwe’s selection follows previous editions hosted by South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana, signalling growing confidence in the country’s capacity to host major youth tournaments.
A total of 16 teams are expected to participate, including hosts Zimbabwe, defending champions Ghana in the girls’ category and Tanzania in the boys’ division.
The competition, introduced by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, blends football development with education and social impact initiatives.
Winners in both the girls’ and boys’ categories will receive prize money of US$300 000.
Since the current Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) board assumed office last year, the country has hosted several regional and continental tournaments, including the CAF Schools Championship COSAFA qualifiers, the COSAFA Under-17 tournament and the CAF Gift Cup.
