Zimbabwe will host the CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals in Harare in April 2026. The tournament will feature 16 teams from across Africa, with millions of students already involved in the programme. CAF says the competition supports youth development, education, and infrastructure growth in African schools.
Zimbabwe will host the 2026 edition of the CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals in Harare from 2 to 10 April 2026, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has announced.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship, now in its fourth year, was launched in 2021 by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The first kick-off event was later held in Maputo, Mozambique. Since its inception, the programme has grown significantly across the continent.
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CAF reports that more than three million boys and girls have participated in the competition since 2022, making it the largest schools football competition globally. A total of 82,477 schools and 48 African countries have taken part in the programme.
The tournament has also seen significant financial investment. The Motsepe Foundation committed an initial USD 10 million towards prize money and development. To date, more than USD 2.6 million has been used to refurbish educational and sporting facilities in schools across Africa.
The Continental Finals will feature 16 teams, including zonal champions, the host nation Zimbabwe, and invited teams from CAF’s sister confederations. The competition will include both boys’ and girls’ categories.
In the girls’ category, participating teams include Zimbabwe, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Guinea, Tanzania, Zambia, and DR Congo. The boys’ category will feature Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Benin, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and DR Congo.
CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba said the programme is aimed at long-term development. “The CAF African Schools Football Championship programme is a strategic investment in the future of African football. Under the leadership of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, this programme continues to combine sporting excellence with education and capacity building,” he said.
He added that the upcoming finals in Zimbabwe will mark a milestone with the inclusion of teams from other confederations. “As we prepare for the Continental Finals in Zimbabwe, including the historic participation of teams from sister Confederations, we reaffirm CAF’s commitment to developing young talent and strengthening institutions,” he said.
Winners in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will receive USD 300,000, while runners-up will get USD 200,000 and third-place teams USD 150,000. The funds are reserved for infrastructure development at participating schools, including sports facilities, classrooms, and libraries.
Alongside the matches, CAF will run capacity-building programmes such as workshops for young referees, reporters, medical officers, coaches, and safeguarding officers. Further details on the official draw are expected to be announced soon.
