Harare secures hosting rights for 2026 CAF African School Championship Finals
Harare, Zimbabwe, will take centre stage as host of the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals, scheduled to run from April 2 to 10, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.
The decision marks a significant return for Zimbabwe, which has not staged a CAF competition in the last six years. Despite that gap, the country has been entrusted with the fast-growing youth tournament, now entering its fourth edition. CAF’s choice follows a recent round of inspection visits, including a February assessment of facilities in Ikenne and Sagamu, Nigeria, as part of the selection process.
CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba highlighted the broader vision behind the competition, describing it as a cornerstone of the continent’s football development strategy.
“The CAF African Schools Football Championship programme is a strategic investment in the future of African football,” he said. “Under the leadership of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, this initiative continues to blend sporting excellence with education and capacity building.”
Beyond the action on the pitch, the tournament carries a strong developmental mandate. Prize money is allocated directly to participating schools, with winners in both the boys’ and girls’ categories earning $300,000. Runners-up will receive $200,000, while third-place finishers take home $150,000.
Crucially, these funds are ring-fenced for infrastructure projects within the schools, including the development of sports facilities, classrooms, libraries, and other essential educational resources. The competition will also feature a series of CAF-led capacity-building programmes delivered by industry experts to strengthen grassroots football structures across the continent.
The finals will feature eight teams in each category. In the girls’ competition, hosts Zimbabwe will be joined by defending champions Ghana, alongside Burkina Faso, Morocco, Guinea, Tanzania, Zambia, and DR Congo.
In the boys’ category, Zimbabwe will compete with reigning champions Tanzania, as well as Benin, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and DR Congo.
CAF is expected to confirm additional invitational teams from other confederations in the coming weeks, further expanding the reach and profile of a tournament that continues to shape the future of African football.
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