EN, FR, PR: South Africa, Zambia to clash in Boys and Girls final of COSAFA Schools Qualifier

Hosts South Africa and Zambia will meet in the finals of both the Boys and Girls competitions at the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier at the Idas Valley Sports Complex in Stellenbosch on Sunday.

Both came through tough semi-final contests and will compete for a place as COSAFA’s representatives in the Continental Finals next year.

Sunday’s third-place play-offs and final matches in both competitions will be live on CAF TV and COSAFA’s YouTube Channel.

South Africa sealed their place in the Boys final with a 2-0 win over Eswatini in their semi-final clash, the fourth year in a row they have reached the decider.

The South Africans have lifted the trophy in the previous three years, but Zambia will be looking to break their dominance.

Zambia defeated Malawi 3-0 in their semi-final to set up their clash with South Africa, which will be played at 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT).

South Africa claimed top spot in Group A in the Boys competition with a vital 2-0 win over Zimbabwe, leapfrogging the latter to seal semi-final qualification.

Zambia’s 6-0 win over Comoros ensured they were winners of Group B, while Malawi’s 1-0 win over Botswana booked their spot too from Group C.

Eswatini finished as the best runner-up by virtue of goals scored. When taking away the 2-0 win against Namibia in the four-team Group A, runners-up Zimbabwe had three points and a -1 goal difference.

Both Eswatini and Botswana, who finished second in their pools, had three points and a 0 goal difference, but Eswatini scored four goals in their two games and Botswana only one, which took the former through to the semi-finals.

Defending champions South Africa needed penalties to see off Zimbabwe in their Girls semi-final after the match had finished 1-1. They triumphed 4-3 on spot-kicks after Zimbabwe failed to convert twice.

Like the Boys, South Africa have lifted the Girls trophy for the last three years and are on course for a quadruple triumph, but will face a stern test against a lively Zambia side.

Zambia were made to work hard but claimed a 2-0 win over Malawi in the Girls semi-final. Their final with South Africa will be played at 11:00 local time (09:00 GMT).

South Africa sealed their place in the semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Zimbabwe in their final pool game, but the latter qualified for the last four as the best runner-up. They then met again in the semis, and it was closer the second time round.

Zambia defeated Comoros 11-0 in their final Group B game for the biggest win of the tournament to date, while Malawi beat Botswana 2-0 to top Group C.

The winners of the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier this year will receive USD 100,000, with the runners-up taking home USD 75,000, and the bronze medallists getting USD 50,000.

The CAF African Schools Football Championship has been spearheaded by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, with the Motsepe Foundation providing a USD 10-million investment into the competition.

The current holders of the continental title in the Boys competition are Tanzania, while the Girls champions are Ghana.

The 2025 finals were played in Accra, Ghana, and the winners each walked away with USD 300,000 in prize money. The runners-up received USD 200,000, while the bronze medallists took home USD 150,000.

This prize money is to be used for infrastructure development at schools, and many teams have invested in educational and sporting aids for their learners.

BOYS FIXTURES/RESULTS
Times are CAT (GMT+2)
Group Stage
South Africa 1-0 Namibia – Group A
Zimbabwe 2-1 Mozambique – Group A
Zambia 4-1 Eswatini – Group B
Malawi 2-1 Lesotho – Group C
South Africa 1-1 Mozambique – Group A
Namibia 0-2 Zimbabwe – Group A
Eswatini 3-0 Comoros – Group B
Lesotho 0-1 Botswana – Group C
South Africa 2-0 Zimbabwe – Group A
Mozambique 0-0 Namibia – Group A
Zambia 6-0 Comoros – Group B
Malawi 1-0 Botswana – Group C

Groups B & C Third-Place Crossover Play-Off
Comoros 2-1 Lesotho 

Groups B & C Second-Place Crossover Play-Off
Zimbabwe 1-0 Botswana

Semi-finals
South Africa 2-0 Eswatini
Zambia 3-0 Malawi

Third-Place Play-Off
07/12, 10:00: Eswatini vs Malawi 

Final
07/12, 12:00: South Africa vs Zambia

BOYS STANDINGS

* After removing their result against Namibia, Zimbabwe had 3 points and a -1 goal-difference in the calculation for best second-placed team.

BOYS TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
Matches played: 16
Goals scored: 38
Biggest win: Zambia 6-0 Comoros (December 6, Group B)
Most goals in a game: 6 – Zambia 6-0 Comoros (December 6, Group B)

GIRLS FIXTURES/RESULTS
Group Stage
South Africa 4-1 Namibia – Group A
Zimbabwe 6-1 Mozambique – Group A
Zambia 6-0 Eswatini – Group B
Malawi 5-0 Lesotho – Group C
South Africa 4-0 Mozambique – Group A
Namibia 0-3 Zimbabwe – Group A
Eswatini 6-0 Comoros – Group B
Lesotho 2-1 Botswana – Group C
South Africa 3-1 Zimbabwe – Group A
Mozambique 1-0 Namibia – Group A
Zambia 11-0 Comoros – Group B
Malawi 2-0 Botswana – Group C

Groups B & C Third-Place Crossover Play-Off
Comoros 0-5 Botswana 

Groups B & C Second-Place Crossover Play-Off
Eswatini 0-2 Lesotho

Semi-finals
South Africa (4)1-1(3) Zimbabwe
Zambia 2-0 Malawi

Third-Place Play-Off
07/12, 09:00: Zimbabwe vs Malawi 

Final
07/12, 11:00: South Africa vs Zambia

GIRLS STANDINGS

* After removing their result against Namibia, Zimbabwe had 3 points and a +3 goal-difference in the calculation for best second-placed team.

GIRLS TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
Matches played: 16
Goals scored: 68
Biggest win: Zambia 11-0 Comoros (December 6, Group B)
Most goals in a game: 11 – Zambia 11-0 Comoros (December 6, Group B)

L’Afrique du Sud vise le doublé
La ville sud-africaine de Stellenbosch se prépare à accueillir, ce dimanche, le point d’orgue de la phase régionale du Championnat Africain de Football Scolaire CAF | COSAFA 2025/26, avec la tenue des finales féminine (11h00) et masculine (12h00). Dans les deux finales, l’équipe hôte, l’Afrique du Sud — championne des trois éditions précédentes dans les deux catégories — est de nouveau présente et affrontera la Zambie, adversaire qui s’est imposée comme l’une des équipes les plus régulières de cette édition. On peut s’attendre à des finales intenses dans un tournoi qui a débuté hier et qui a réuni, pendant trois jours de compétition, de jeunes talents de toute la région.

Le parcours jusqu’aux finales reflète l’équilibre croissant de la compétition. Chez les garçons, l’Afrique du Sud a dominé le groupe A après sa victoire 3–1 face au Zimbabwe et son match nul 0–0 contre la Namibie. La Zambie, de son côté, s’est imposée dans le groupe B en infligeant un cinglant 6–0 aux Comores, tandis que le Malawi a remporté le groupe C en battant le Botswana 1–0. Lors du play-off croisé, le Zimbabwe a battu le Botswana (1–0) et a obtenu sa place en demi-finales en tant que meilleur deuxième, conformément au règlement qui qualifie pour cette phase les trois vainqueurs de groupe et le meilleur deuxième général. En demi-finales, les hôtes ont battu l’Eswatini 2–0, tandis que la Zambie a confirmé son statut de favorite en écrasant le Malawi 3–0, décrochant ainsi sa place en finale.

Chez les filles, le scénario s’est répété. L’Afrique du Sud a battu le Zimbabwe (3–1) dans le groupe A, où le Mozambique s’est également illustré en battant la Namibie 1–0. La Zambie a dominé le groupe B en infligeant un impressionnant 11–0 aux Comores, et le Malawi a remporté le groupe C après sa victoire 2–0 sur le Botswana. Le play-off des meilleurs deuxièmes a vu le Lesotho éliminer l’Eswatini (2–0), tandis que, pour la place de troisième, le Botswana a largement battu les Comores (5–0). En demi-finales, l’Afrique du Sud a dû recourir aux tirs au but pour éliminer le Zimbabwe, après un 1–1 à la fin du temps réglementaire, s’imposant 4–3 dans la séance de tirs au but. La Zambie a validé sa place en finale par une victoire nette 2–0 contre le Malawi.

Avant les grandes finales, la matinée de dimanche sera consacrée aux matches pour la troisième place : chez les filles, à 09h00, Zimbabwe et Malawi se disputeront la dernière marche du podium ; chez les garçons, à 10h00, Eswatini et Malawi clôtureront la compétition avec le même objectif. Peu après, l’attention se portera entièrement sur les finales, prévues à 11h00 (féminine) et 12h00 (masculine), suivies de la cérémonie de remise des prix à 13h00.

Porté par le président de la CAF, le Dr Patrice Motsepe, et soutenu par un investissement de 10 millions de dollars de la Motsepe Foundation, le Championnat Africain de Football Scolaire prend de l’ampleur sur le plan continental. Lors de la phase finale africaine, les actuels champions sont la Tanzanie (masculins) et le Ghana (féminines), vainqueurs à Accra, qui ont chacun reçu 300 000 dollars ; 200 000 dollars ont été attribués aux finalistes battus et 150 000 dollars aux troisièmes. Au niveau de la COSAFA, les récompenses prévoient 100 000 dollars pour les vainqueurs de la phase régionale, 75 000 pour les seconds et 50 000 pour les troisièmes, sommes destinées au développement des infrastructures et des programmes éducatifs dans les écoles participantes.

Diffusé en direct sur CAF TV et sur la chaîne officielle de la COSAFA sur YouTube, le tournoi se déroule parallèlement à un vaste programme de formation, qui inclut la formation d’entraîneurs, d’arbitres et de jeunes journalistes, des actions de santé et de protection de l’enfance, ainsi que des initiatives en analyse de données et compétences numériques, soutenues par les sponsors TotalEnergies et Danone.

Dans un contexte où l’Afrique du Sud cherche à préserver une hégémonie déjà historique, les finales contre la Zambie constituent cette année la menace la plus sérieuse au maintien du règne des hôtes, promettant de clore l’édition 2025/26 sur du football compétitif et un vivier de jeunes talents mis en lumière.

África do Sul tenta manter hegemonia nas finais do “Regional” escolar CAF | COSAFA
A cidade sul-africana de Stellenbosch prepara-se para receber, este domingo, o momento alto da Fase Regional do Campeonato Africano de Futebol Escolar da CAF | COSAFA 2025/26, com a disputa das finais feminina (11h00) e masculina (12h00). Em ambas as decisões, a selecção anfitriã da África do Sul, campeã nas três edições anteriores da prova dos dois escalões, volta a marcar presença e terá pela frente a Zâmbia, adversária que se tem afirmado como uma das equipas mais consistentes desta edição, prometendo finais intensas num torneio que arrancou ontem e reuniu jovens talentos de toda a região ao longo de três dias de competição.

O percurso até à final confirmou o equilíbrio crescente da prova. Nos rapazes, a África do Sul liderou o Grupo A depois de vencer o Zimbabwe por 3–1 e empatar sem golos frente à Namíbia. A Zâmbia, por sua vez, impôs-se no Grupo B com uma goleada por 6–0 frente às Comores, enquanto o Malawi venceu o Grupo C ao derrotar o Botswana por 1–0. No play-off de cruzamento, o Zimbabwe superou o Botswana (1–0) e garantiu presença nas meias-finais como melhor segundo classificado, conforme o regulamento que apura para esta fase os três vencedores de grupo e o melhor segundo geral. Nas meias-finais, os anfitriões bateram o Eswatini por 2–0, enquanto a Zâmbia confirmou o favoritismo ao golear o Malawi por 3–0, carimbando o duelo decisivo.

Na competição feminina, o cenário repetiu-se. A África do Sul venceu o Zimbabwe (3–1) no Grupo A, onde Moçambique também brilhou ao bater a Namíbia por 1–0. A Zâmbia dominou o Grupo B com um expressivo 11–0 frente às Comores, e o Malawi liderou o Grupo C após triunfar por 2–0 sobre o Botswana. O play-off dos melhores segundos levou o Lesotho a eliminar o Eswatini (2–0), enquanto no apuramento para a classificação do terceiro lugar o Botswana goleou as Comores (5–0). Nas meias-finais, a África do Sul precisou de recorrer às grandes penalidades para afastar o Zimbabwe, depois de um empate 1–1 no tempo regulamentar, vencendo por 4–3 no desempate. A Zâmbia carimbou a final com um triunfo seguro por 2–0 diante do Malawi.

Antes das grandes decisões, a manhã de domingo será preenchida pelos jogos de atribuição do terceiro lugar: nas raparigas, às 09h00, Zimbabwe e Malawi discutem o lugar mais baixo do pódio; nos rapazes, às 10h00, Eswatini e Malawi fecham a competição com o mesmo objectivo. Pouco depois, o foco vira-se totalmente para as finais, marcadas para as 11h00 (femininos) e 12h00 (masculinos), culminando com a cerimónia de entrega de prémios às 13h00.

Impulsionado pelo Presidente da CAF, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, e sustentado por um investimento de 10 milhões de dólares da Fundação Motsepe, o Campeonato Africano de Futebol Escolar tem vindo a ganhar dimensão continental. Na fase final africana, os actuais campeões são a Tanzânia (masculinos) e o Gana (femininos), vencedores em Acra, que arrecadaram 300 mil dólares cada, com 200 mil destinados aos finalistas vencidos e 150 mil para os terceiros classificados. Já ao nível da COSAFA, os prémios preveem 100 mil dólares para os vencedores da fase regional, 75 mil para os segundos e 50 mil para os terceiros, verbas canalizadas para o desenvolvimento de infra-estruturas e programas educativos nas escolas participantes.

Com transmissão em directo na CAF TV e no canal oficial da COSAFA no YouTube, o torneio decorre em paralelo com um vasto programa formativo, que integra capacitação de treinadores, árbitros e jovens jornalistas, acções de saúde e protecção infantil, além de iniciativas de análise de dados e competências digitais, apoiadas pelos patrocinadores TotalEnergies e Danone. Num contexto em que a África do Sul tenta manter uma hegemonia já histórica, as finais frente à Zâmbia representam, este ano, a mais séria ameaça ao domínio dos anfitriões, prometendo fechar a edição 2025/26 com futebol competitivo e talento juvenil em destaque.

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