HARARE — Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Zimbabwe will host the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals in Harare from April 2–10.
Zimbabwe last hosted regional youth football events in 2025, including the COSAFA Under-17 AFCON qualifier at The Heart Stadium and Ngoni Stadium in Norton, with the latter also staging the CAF Under-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament.
Now in its fourth year, the championship was launched in 2021 by CAF president Patrice Motsepe. It has grown into the world’s largest schools football programme, with more than three million participants from 82,477 schools across 48 countries.
CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba said the tournament is central to developing the future of African football.
“The CAF African Schools Football Championship is a strategic investment in the future of African football. Under the leadership of Dr Patrice Motsepe, the programme continues to combine sporting excellence with education and capacity building.
As we prepare for the finals in Zimbabwe, including the historic participation of teams from sister confederations, we reaffirm CAF’s commitment to developing young talent and strengthening institutions.”
The Zimbabwe Football Association welcomed the announcement, describing it as a major milestone.
“Hosting this tournament marks an important moment for Zimbabwean football. It will be the first CAF event staged in the country in more than six years and reflects growing confidence in Zimbabwe’s ability to host major continental competitions,” ZIFA said.
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Prize money will see winners in both categories receive US$300,000, with runners-up earning US$200,000 and third-place teams US$150,000. The funds are ring-fenced for infrastructure development at participating schools, including sports facilities, classrooms and libraries.
CAF will also run parallel capacity-building programmes, including workshops for referees, reporters and medical personnel.
Participating teams
Girls: Zimbabwe (hosts), Ghana (champions), Burkina Faso, Morocco, Guinea, Tanzania, Zambia, DR Congo
Boys: Zimbabwe (hosts), Tanzania (champions), Benin, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, DR Congo
