Zimbabwe Wins Motsepe’s Praise

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe has applauded Zimbabwe for successfully hosting the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship, praising the country for delivering a well organised and memorable tournament that brought together young talent from across the continent.

Staged at Gateway High School in Harare and Ngoni Stadium in Norton, the week long competition turned into far more than just a football tournament. It became a celebration of African youth development, opportunity and unity, with Zimbabwe playing host to players, coaches, football legends, volunteers, officials and supporters in a vibrant festival of the game.

Speaking during the finals, Dr Motsepe commended Zimbabwe and underlined the importance of giving hosting opportunities to countries that may not always be viewed as traditional front runners for major events, saying such occasions help grow the game across the continent.

“It is very important that we continue to give hosting opportunities to countries that would not ordinarily qualify for such events, because in doing so we give them a platform to compete at the highest level, to showcase their abilities and to prove that they too can organise and deliver football of the highest standard,” said Dr Motsepe.

His remarks carried special significance for Zimbabwe, whose successful hosting of the championship offered a strong statement of intent. With CAF oversight and ZIFA working hand in hand throughout the week, the tournament ran smoothly and professionally, from logistics and match operations to fan engagement, legacy activities and the overall matchday experience.

Hundreds of volunteers played their part in making the event a success, while African football legends added further value through their presence and interaction with the young players. Zimbabwean fans also embraced the tournament with warmth and enthusiasm, helping to create a welcoming atmosphere that reflected the country’s passion for football and its readiness to stage major continental events.

For ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi, the tournament represented both a proud moment and an important learning experience for Zimbabwean football.

“We are honoured that Zimbabwe was entrusted with this responsibility, and we are proud of the way our people, our volunteers and our football family rose to the occasion,” said Magwizi. “Our ambition is to keep learning from experiences like this, to keep raising our standards and to work our way to the top table of African football. Hosting a tournament of this nature gives us belief, but it also gives us valuable lessons on what it takes to compete and organise at the highest level.”

Magwizi said the championship had shown what can be achieved when institutions, communities and football stakeholders pull in the same direction. He noted that beyond the matches themselves, the tournament had helped strengthen Zimbabwe’s confidence and capacity in event delivery, while also exposing local football to best practice under CAF guidance.

The successful staging of the CAF African Schools Football Championship 2026 will be remembered not only for what happened on the pitch, but also for what it represented off it. It showcased Zimbabwe’s ability to host with pride, warmth and competence. It demonstrated the value of opening doors for more African nations to step onto the continental stage. And it reinforced an important message: African football grows stronger when more countries are trusted, empowered and given the chance to shine.

For Zimbabwe, this was more than a week of football. It was a statement of progress, promise and possibility.

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