CAF African Schools Football Championship Zimbabwe 2026 draw unveils exciting group stage clashes
Exciting group stage encounters have been confirmed for the CAF African Schools Football Championship Zimbabwe 2026 following the official draw held in Harare on Thursday.
Hosts Zimbabwe headline a competitive Group A in both the boys’ and girls’ competitions, setting up highly anticipated clashes against some of the continent’s strongest emerging football nations.
In the girls’ tournament, Zimbabwe will face Morocco, Zambia and DR Congo, while defending champions Ghana are set for a challenging Group B campaign against Guinea, Tanzania and Burkina Faso.
The boys’ competition also promises thrilling contests, with defending champions Tanzania drawn in a tough Group B alongside Zambia, Senegal and Benin.
Hosts Zimbabwe will compete in Group A against Uganda, Morocco and DR Congo in what is expected to be a fiercely contested pool.
The tournament, which brings together Africa’s brightest young talents, will kick off on 06 April 2026, with the finals scheduled for 10 April in Harare.
The draw ceremony was conducted in the presence of African football legends Amanda Dlamini (South Africa) and Esrom Nyandoro (Zimbabwe), adding prestige to the occasion as teams discovered their paths to continental glory.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship continues to serve as a flagship programme aimed at nurturing young talent while promoting education and community development across the continent.
The winners in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will receive USD 300,000, while runners-up will earn USD 200,000 and third-placed teams USD 150,000. These funds are allocated to support development projects within participating schools, ensuring a lasting legacy beyond the competition.
Since its launch in 2022, with the support of the Motsepe Foundation’s USD 10 million investment, the CAF African Schools Football Championship has grown into the largest schools football initiative globally.
To date, more than 3,160,000 boys and girls have participated, with over 142,360 schools from 49 African countries involved in the programme.
The competition continues to reflect CAF’s commitment to developing football at grassroots level while empowering Africa’s youth through sport and education.
Group Stage Draw
Girls’ Competition
Group A: Zimbabwe (hosts), Morocco, Zambia, DR Congo
Group B: Ghana (holders), Guinea, Tanzania, Burkina Faso
Boys’ Competition
Group A: Zimbabwe (hosts), Uganda, Morocco, DR Congo
Group B: Tanzania (holders), Zambia, Senegal, Benin
For more information on the CAF African Schools Football Championship, visit: www.cafonline.com
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CAF Communications Division