All you need to know about the CAF Under-17 GIFT Zimbabwe 2025
The Confédération Africaine de Football’s (CAF) Under-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) will be staged just outside Harare, Zimbabwe from Monday, the second edition of this key developmental platform.
Here is all you need to know about the competition.
KEY FACTS
When: 08-18 December, 2025
Where: Ngoni Stadium, Norton, 40-kilometres west of Harare
Age-group: Under-17 Girls
Teams: Eight
HOW TO WATCH
All matches will be streamed LIVE on CAF TV and COSAFA’s YouTube Channel.
THE TEAMS
Mpopoma Sports Academy (Zimbabwe)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Refilwe FC (South Africa)
Otjiwarongo Sports Academy (Namibia)
Okakarara Golden Ladies (Namibia)
Luwinga Academy (Malawi)
Aguila Starsn (Zambia)
Lishoeshoe (Lesotho)
FIXTURES
Kick-off times below are CAT (GMT+2)
GROUP A
08 Dec, 12:00: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Luwinga Academy
08 Dec, 15:00: Mpopoma Sports Academy vs Otjiwarongo Sports Academy
11 Dec, 12:00: Otjiwarongo Sports Academy vs Mamelodi Sundowns
11 Dec, 15:00: Mpopoma Sports Academy vs Luwinga Academy
14 Dec, 12:00: Luwinga Academy vs Otjiwarongo Sports Academy
14 Dec, 15:00: Mpopoma Sports Academy vs Mamelodi Sundowns
\GROUP B
09 Dec, 12:00: Refilwe FC vs Lishoeshoe
09 Dec, 15:00: Aguila Stars Women FC vs Okakarara Golden Ladies
12 Dec, 12:00: Okakarara Golden Ladies vs Refilwe FC
12 Dec, 15:00: Aguila Stars Women FC vs Lishoeshoe
15 Dec, 12:00: Lishoeshoe vs Okakarara Golden Ladies
15 Dec, 15:00: Aguila Stars Women FC vs Refilwe FC
CLASSIFICATION & FINAL MATCHES
17 Dec, 12:00: 4th Group A vs 4th Group B (7th/8th place playoff)
17 Dec, 15:00: 3rd Group A vs 3rd Group B (5th/6th place playoff)
18 Dec, 11:00: 2nd Group A vs 2nd Group B (3rd/4th place playoff)
18 Dec, 14:00: 1st Group A vs 1st Group B (Final)
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?
More than what happens on the pitch, there will also be workshops and training on the sidelines of the event that will leave a legacy of knowledge in Harare and for those who take part.
Young Referees Training
The young referees who will be officiating at the CAF GIFT U17 will be put through their paces in a training workshop that ends on Sunday. These officials, mostly female and including 10 local match officials, will be central to the success of the competition and represent the future of refereeing in the region.
Media Officers Workshop
A workshop for media officers from local clubs, national associations and the competing teams that will be a hybrid of an in-person event and online sessions. It focuses on the work of media officers and the expectations of CAF regarding their efficient operation for the benefit of the teams they represent.
GAVI & UEFA Awareness Campaign
A vaccination awareness campaign with local NGO Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), in partnership with UEFA, that teaches youngsters the importance of vaccinations and how they can prevent life-threatening diseases. It is an informative session only, with no actual vaccines administered.
D-Licence Coaching Course & Grassroots Festival
A coaching course that will run from December 6–13 and finishes with the grassroots festival, where children from the local Norton community will take part. The coaches will run the festival as part of their course, under the watchful eye of instructors.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME
The inaugural edition of the CAF U17 GIFT tournament was staged in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in January 2025 and was won by local side JKT Queens, who beat compatriots TDS Girls 2–1 in the final.
Kenya Academy of Sport (KAS) finished third in the tournament when they beat Uganda’s Boni Consilli Girls 2-0 in a play-off match.
Kenya Elite Junior Academy took fifth with a 4-0 victory over Aigle Noir from Burundi.
Winfrida Gerald of JKT Queens finished as Golden Boot winner with eight goals. The Player of the Tournament went to Mary Siyane from TDS Girls after several outstanding displays, while Goalkeeper of the Tournament was won by her teammate Nusra Jafari. The Fair Play Award also went to TDS Girls.
ABOUT THE CAF U17 GIFT
CAF has made the growth of women’s football a key aspect of its development agenda, and this tournament provides young players with the chance to showcase their skills and gain experience.
“The CAF GIFT U17 tournament was created to fill an important gap in women’s football,” says CAF Head of Women’s Football Meskerem Tadesse Goshime. “It aims to offer girls under the age of 17, who often play in senior leagues, an opportunity to compete at a higher level.
“This tournament not only allows young players to gain international experience but also stimulates investment in women’s football at the level of national clubs and associations.
“The ultimate goal is to see more African countries participate in similar competitions as part of regional development. This tournament is a starting point for the expansion of girls’ competitions throughout Africa, and the idea is to create a platform for girls under the age of 17 to play in competitions appropriate to their level and age.
