The 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.
Now in its fourth edition, the competition continues to grow as a flagship youth development programme on the continent, blending football with education and social impact. Since its launch in 2021 by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, the initiative has attracted millions of participants across Africa.
CAF reports that more than three million boys and girls from 82,477 schools in 48 countries have taken part in the programme, making it the largest schools football competition globally.
A total of 16 teams will compete in the finals following the conclusion of zonal qualifiers. The tournament will feature zonal champions, the host nation Zimbabwe, and selected invitational teams from other confederations, marking a historic expansion of the competition’s reach.
In the girls’ category, hosts Zimbabwe will be joined by defending champions Ghana, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Guinea, Tanzania, Zambia and DR Congo.
The boys’ competition will include Zimbabwe, reigning champions Tanzania, Benin, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and DR Congo.
CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba described the programme as a key pillar in the development of African football.
He said the initiative reflects CAF’s long-term commitment to nurturing young talent while strengthening education and institutional capacity across the continent.
Prize money remains a major incentive, with winners in both categories set to receive 300,000 dollars. Runners-up will earn 200,000 dollars, while third-place teams will receive 150,000 dollars. CAF confirmed that the funds are reserved for infrastructure projects at participating schools, including improvements to sports facilities, classrooms and libraries.
The Motsepe Foundation initially committed 10 million dollars towards the programme, while more than 2.6 million dollars has already been invested in upgrading educational and sporting facilities in schools across Africa.
Alongside the matches, CAF will run capacity-building initiatives such as workshops for young referees, reporters, medical officers and coaches, as well as safeguarding programmes aimed at supporting holistic development.
Previous hosts of the continental finals include South Africa in 2023, Tanzania in 2024 and Ghana in 2025. Further details on the official draw and invited international teams are expected to be announced in due course.
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