Harare to host 2026 CAF African Schools Championship Continental Finals

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals will be held in Harare, Zimbabwe from April 2 to April 10.

Now in its fourth edition, the competition continues to grow as one of CAF’s key development programmes, combining football with education and social impact across the continent.

Launched in 2021 under CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, the initiative has expanded rapidly, with more than three million boys and girls taking part since 2022. Over 82,000 schools across 48 African countries have participated, making it the largest schools football competition in the world.

The tournament will feature 16 teams, including zonal champions, hosts Zimbabwe and invited sides from other confederations, marking a new step in exposing young African talent to the global stage.

In the girls’ competition, hosts Zimbabwe will be joined by defending champions Ghana, alongside Burkina Faso, Morocco, Guinea, Tanzania, Zambia and DR Congo. The boys’ category will include Zimbabwe, defending champions Tanzania, Benin, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and DR Congo.

CAF is expected to confirm additional invited teams from other confederations in due course.

Prize money remains a key feature of the competition, with winners in both the boys’ and girls’ categories receiving $300,000. Runners-up will earn $200,000, while third-place teams will receive $150,000. The funds are allocated for infrastructure development in participating schools, including classrooms, libraries and sports facilities.

The Motsepe Foundation initially committed $10 million to support prize funding, while more than $2.6 million has already been invested in upgrading educational and sporting facilities across African schools.

Previous hosts of the finals include South Africa in 2023, Tanzania in 2024 and Ghana in 2025.

CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba said the programme remains central to the organisation’s long-term vision.

“The CAF African Schools Football Championship programme is a strategic investment in the future of African football. Under the leadership of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, this programme continues to combine sporting excellence with education and capacity building,” he said.

“As we prepare for the Continental Finals in Zimbabwe, including the participation of teams from sister confederations, we reaffirm CAF’s commitment to developing young talent and strengthening football structures across the continent.”

Alongside the matches, CAF will run capacity-building initiatives including workshops for young referees, reporters, medical officers, coaches and safeguarding officers.

Further details, including the official draw, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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