CAF U17 GIFT Zimbabwe 2025 Profiles: Lishoeshoe and Luwinga Academy
The second edition of the Confédération Africaine de Football’s (CAF) Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) will be staged in Harare, Zimbabwe from December 8–18 2025, with eight club sides from around the Southern African region competing for the title.
The teams are drawn from across the Southern African region for the development initiative, which forms part of CAF’s expansive plans to grow Women’s Football on the African continent by providing opportunities at all levels for players and coaches. The draw for the CAF U17 GIFT will take place on Friday, 28 November 2025 at COSAFA House in Johannesburg, South Africa at 10h00 CAT (08h00 GMT).
We will profile all eight sides, starting with Lesotho’s Lishoeshoe and the Luwinga Academy from Malawi.
LISHOESHOE
This team is composed of players who have progressed through Lesotho’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS), a long-term youth pathway implemented with technical support from FIFA.
Lishoeshoe functions as the country’s de facto national side at U17 level, but its roots lie firmly in the TDS structure and the nationwide scouting network that identifies promising youngsters through the annual inter-district U14 competition.
The players selected have therefore been in a structured environment for several years, receiving regular coaching, education support, and competitive opportunities designed to accelerate their development.
They now head into the CAF U17 GIFT tournament eager to showcase both their potential and the progress Lesotho’s youth system has made in recent seasons.
The team is coached by Elizabeth Yelimala, a highly respected figure in the country’s football landscape. Ghanaian-born but deeply embedded in Lesotho’s game for more than two decades, she has spent several years with the Kick4Life academy and is one of the few women in the region to hold a CAF A Licence.
Her experience in youth development and her understanding of the local football ecosystem have been central to shaping this group.
Efforts to expand Lesotho’s talent pipeline continue. Last year, the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) partnered with a local high school to establish a dedicated boys’ academy, aimed at identifying and nurturing elite prospects in a more consistent daily-training environment.
Plans are already in place to extend a similar model to girls, strengthening the foundation that programmes like the TDS have built and ensuring a clearer pathway for young female players who aspire to reach national-team level.
LUWINGA ACADEMY
Luwinga Academy in Malawi has built a strong reputation for nurturing young footballers, and its girls’ programme has become one of the country’s most encouraging success stories.
Based in Mzuzu, the academy was developed through the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and provides structured coaching, regular competition, and a safe environment where girls can develop both their football skills and personal confidence.
Many of the players come from communities where sporting opportunities for girls are limited, making the academy an important pathway for talent that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The coaching philosophy emphasises technical development, teamwork, and education, with staff encouraging players to balance school commitments and sport. Luwinga Academy’s girls have increasingly featured in regional tournaments, often competing above their age groups and showing strong tactical awareness and athleticism.
Beyond results, the programme is helping shift perceptions about girls’ football in northern Malawi, proving that with proper support and consistent training, young female players can aspire to compete on bigger stages.