CAF drives youth refereeing development as CAF African Schools Football Championship kicks off in Harare

CAF continues to reinforce its commitment to holistic youth development through the integration of referee training into its grassroots competitions, as highlighted during the CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals in Harare.

Speaking to CAFOnline on the sidelines of the tournament, CAF Referee Instructor, Felix Tangawarima underscored the importance of aligning the development of referees with that of young players.

Tangawarima’s remarks followed the successful conclusion of a five-day CAF Young Referees Programme ahead of the start of the competition.

The CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals are officiated by a young and diverse team of Africa’s rising referees

“What we are looking at is that we are looking at school children and want the same level of referees to officiate the same level of players. Hence, we limit the age between 15–20,” said Tangawarima.

This approach reflects CAF’s broader strategic vision of nurturing all facets of the game simultaneously. By focusing on referees within the same age bracket as the players, CAF ensures that both groups grow and gain experience in competitive environments from an early stage.

“As we develop players at this age, it is equally important that we develop referees at this age group too to ensure that they grow together. African football continues to grow and is highly competitive, and it is crucial that the level of officiating does not fall behind in our development of football,” he added.

The Young Referees Programme serves as a key pillar in CAF’s efforts to elevate officiating standards across the continent. Participants are carefully selected from various member associations, providing a diverse and representative pool of talent.

Tangawarima emphasised that the initiative does not end with the training camp.

“These referees come from various federations. We need to continue monitoring them in their countries and track their development. What we do not want is to have such quality refereeing and then see them become idle back home. We want to monitor them all the way up to a level where they can officiate international competitions,” he explained.

The CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals Zimbabwe 2026 continues in Harare, with the final set to take place on Friday, 10 April.