FLASHBACK: Last year’s winners
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially selected Ghana as the host nation for the 2025 CAF African Schools Football Championship, scheduled to take place from April between 21 and 26.
The prestigious continental finals will be held at the University of Ghana’s Legon Sports Stadium in Accra.
This will be the first time the tournament’s grand finale will be hosted in West Africa, following successful editions in South Africa (2023) and Tanzania (2024).
Launched in 2022 by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the championship has seen over 1.9 million boys and girls from 46 countries participate, making it Africa’s largest youth football development initiative.
With support from the Motsepe Foundation’s $10 million donation, the tournament’s prize money has been used for legacy projects, including school renovations, library construction, and community infrastructure development.
The winning team will receive $300,000, while the runners-up and third-placed teams will earn $200,000 and $150,000 respectively.
The 2025 edition will feature teams from CAF’s six zones, alongside the 2023/24 champions and host nation Ghana. The competing teams include Ghana (host), Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Morocco, DR Congo, Gambia, Senegal, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire.
CAF’s Director of Member Associations, Sarah Mukuna, expressed excitement about Ghana’s selection, highlighting the tournament’s role in nurturing young talent while providing opportunities for education and skill development. She also acknowledged CANAL+ as a key partner in elevating the competition.
In addition to thrilling football action, the event will feature capacity-building programmes for young players, coaches, and educators. These include the CAF D License coaching course, safeguarding workshops, safety and security training, and initiatives for young referees, medical officers, and reporters.
By Wletsu Ransford