CAF African Schools Football Championship UNAF Zonal Qualifiers to be staged in Cairo on Sunday

The CAF African Schools Football Championship 2025/26 Zonal Qualifiers are approaching their decisive stage as Egypt prepares to host the UNAF Zonal Qualifiers in Cairo from 25 to 27 January 2026.

The UNAF tournament marks the fifth of the six zonal qualifiers of Africa’s largest youth football competition, following the successful launch of the qualifiers in October 2025 across the continent. The championship continues to reflect CAF’s commitment to youth development, education and safeguarding through football.

Egypt, as hosts, will welcome Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, with the four nations competing for a coveted place in the CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals, scheduled to take place in April 2026.

Last season’s UNAF representatives were Algeria in the Boys’ U-15 category and were joined by winners of the Girls division, Morocco who delivered an impressive campaign, reaching the semi-finals of the Continental Finals held in Ghana.

Ahead of the Sunday’s qualifiers, CAF will stage its CAF African Schools Football Championship Capacity Building Programme, which will serve as a curtain-raiser to the tournament. These workshops form a core pillar of the competition’s legacy and development objectives, focusing on holistic growth beyond the field of play. 

The capacity-building initiatives will include:

• Young Referees Workshop
• Young Medical Officers Workshop
• Young Reporters Workshop
• CAF Safeguarding Workshop

Each programme has been carefully designed to equip young participants and officials with essential technical, professional and life skills, reinforcing CAF’s vision of football as a powerful tool for education, empowerment and social development.

CAF African Schools Football Championship UNAF Qualifiers Groups:

BOYS: Egypt (Hosts) Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

GIRLS: Egypt (Hosts), Algeria, Morocco

CAF African Schools Football Championship Zonal Qualifiers Results:

With only two zonal qualifiers remaining, anticipation continues to build as Africa’s young football stars compete for continental qualification and the opportunity to showcase their talent at Africa’s largest youth football competition.