The 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals will be held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 2–10 April 2026, an announcement made by caf. The fourth edition will bring 16 teams — zonal champions, the host nation and invited teams from sister Confederations — to compete while the programme pairs competition with education and capacity building. Prize funds are ring-fenced for school infrastructure and a slate of workshops for referees, reporters and medical officers will run alongside the matches.
Expanding details: dates, teams and payouts
CAF has set the tournament window for 2–10 April 2026 in Harare, where 16 teams will contest the Continental Finals following zonal qualifiers. The girls’ entries listed for the finals are Zimbabwe (Hosts), Ghana (Champions), Burkina Faso, Morocco, Guinea, Tanzania, Zambia and DR Congo. The boys’ entries are Zimbabwe (Hosts), Tanzania (Champions), Benin, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and DR Congo.
The championship is now in its fourth edition, launched by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe in 2021 with initial events in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and a kick-off event later in Maputo, Mozambique. CAF states that more than two million boys and girls have participated across the programme since its inception.
Financial prizes are structured to support school development: winners in both boys’ and girls’ categories receive USD 300, 000, runners-up USD 200, 000 and third-place finishers USD 150, 000. Those funds are ring-fenced for infrastructure projects at the beneficiary schools, including sports facilities, classrooms and libraries.
Caf immediate reactions and capacity-building programmes
Veron Mosengo-Omba, CAF General Secretary, said: “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 added: “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. “
The organisers will run parallel capacity-building activities overseen by CAF, including a Young Referees Workshop, Young Reporter Workshop, Young Medical Officers Workshop, Coaching Workshops and Safeguarding Workshops, all designed to expand skills off the pitch as well as on it. The Zimbabwe Football Association welcomed the selection of Harare as host, describing the decision as an important milestone for local football development.
What’s next: draws, invitations and logistics
CAF will soon confirm details of the invitational teams from other Confederations and will communicate the official draw in due course. Operational planning and the publication of schedules, venues and accreditation procedures are expected to follow from the organisers as preparations accelerate toward April 2, 2026 (ET). The coming weeks should clarify travel, match venues and the full roster of participants as caf finalises the competitive and educational programme for the finals.
