Confederation of African Football has confirmed that the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals will take place in Harare, Zimbabwe from 2 to 10 April 2026, as preparations intensify for one of the continent’s fastest growing youth football competitions.
The tournament, now in its fourth edition, was launched in 2021 by CAF President Patrice Motsepe in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with its first matches held shortly after in Maputo, Mozambique. Since its inception, the competition has expanded rapidly, attracting millions of young participants across Africa and establishing itself as a major platform for grassroots football development.
Following the conclusion of the zonal qualifiers, 16 teams have secured qualification for the finals, including host nation Zimbabwe, zonal champions, and selected teams from across the continent. The competition will also feature a historic inclusion of invited teams from other confederations, further raising its global profile.
In the girls category, hosts Zimbabwe will compete alongside defending champions Ghana, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Guinea, Tanzania, Zambia and DR Congo. In the boys category, Zimbabwe will again feature together with reigning champions Tanzania, Benin, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and DR Congo.
CAF confirmed that additional details regarding invited teams from other confederations will be announced in due course.
The championship continues to grow in scale and impact, with millions of boys and girls participating since its launch and tens of thousands of schools across 48 African countries taking part in the programme. It remains the largest schools football initiative globally, combining competition with education, social development and capacity building.
Prize money remains a key incentive, with winners in both the boys and girls categories set to receive 300,000 US dollars, while runners up will earn 200,000 dollars and third place teams will receive 150,000 dollars. These funds are dedicated to infrastructure development projects within participating schools, including improvements to classrooms, libraries and sports facilities.
CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba emphasised the long term vision behind the initiative, stating: “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”
“As we prepare for the Continental Finals in Zimbabwe, including the historic participation of teams from sister Confederations, we reaffirm CAF’s commitment to developing young talent, strengthening institutions and positioning African football competitively on the global stage”
Beyond the matches, the tournament will also feature several development programmes aimed at nurturing young professionals in different areas of the sport. These include workshops for young referees, reporters, medical officers and coaches, as well as safeguarding initiatives led by CAF experts.
The 2026 finals in Harare are expected to further strengthen the competition’s reputation as a key pathway for emerging football talent in Africa while promoting education and community development through sport.
