Boys Profiles

Algeria

• Zonal Union: UNAF
• Past Appearances (1): 2023-24

Algeria will be making a return to the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals this year after missing out on the Zanzibar edition in 2023-24. 

The North African champions secured their ticket to Accra after winning the round-robin qualifiers that were played on home soil in Oran.

The Algerians emerged victorious ahead of strong competition from Morocco and Tunisia, who narrowly missed out. 

Algeria’s return sees them represent the North Zone after Libya did so last time out. They will be aiming at doing better than their regional counterparts, who could not advance from the group stages of the highly competitive youth competition. 

The last time Algeria appeared at the finals was in the inaugural edition of the CAF African Schools Football Championship where they were represented by Ecole Boulawech Boumerdes School.

Despite a gallant performance, the Algerians could not go beyond the group stages, a feat that they will be hoping to improve on in Accra this season. 

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals:

• 2022-23: Group Stages
• 2023-24: Did not enter

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship UNAF Qualifiers:

• 2022-23: Winners
• 2023-24: Did not enter

2024-25: Winners

Côte d'Ivoire

• Zonal Union: WAFU B
• Past Appearances (0): None

Côte d'Ivoire are making their debut in the CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals.

They qualified for this year's tournament after they were champions of the WAFU B Championship in Niger, where they defeated Benin in the final.

It makes up for the disappointment of the 2023-24 zonal qualifiers where Cote d’Ivoire were finalists, but lost 2-0 to Benin in the decider and did not take their place on the continental stage. 
The zonal qualifiers for the inaugural 2022-23 competition were staged in Abidjan, but the Cote d’Ivoire representatives did not make the final. 

One of the top fancied teams, Côte d'Ivoire aims to become the second West African team to win the trophy following the victory of Guinea in the inaugural edition held in Durban, South Africa, in 2023.

CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals:

• 2022-23: Did not qualify
• 2023-24: Did not qualify

CAF African Schools Football Championship WAFU B Zonal Finals:

• 2022-23: Group Stages
• 2023-24: Runners-Up

2024-25: Winners

Democratic Republic of Congo

• Zonal Union: UNIFFAC
• Past Appearances (1): 2022-23

For the second time in its history, the Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing to play in the CAF African School Football Championship. 

A qualification that comes in a particular context, since they took advantage of the FIFA suspension hitting Congo, champion of the UNIFFAC zone. 

In the regional final, DR Congo lost 1-0 to the Red Devils. But this unexpected opportunity gives young Congolese talents a chance to shine on the continental scene.

The core of the team is made up of young players from local training centres, supervised by an ambitious staff who want to lay the foundations of a sustainable project for Congolese school football.

At the head of this promising generation, Emedi Deo Gracias Bin Sudi embodies a new approach in the development of youth football in DR Congo. 

His ambition is clear: to structure the team around a fluid collective game and tactical rigor, while highlighting the natural technical qualities of the Congolese players.

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals:

• 2022-23: Group Stages
• 2023-24: Did not qualify

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship UNIFFAC Qualifiers:

• 2022-23: Winners
• 2023-24: Runners-Up

2024-25: Runners-Up

Senegal

• Zonal Union: WAFU A
• Past appearances (1): 2024

Senegal have won the CAF African Schools Football Championship WAFU A qualifiers for the previous two editions and so return to the continental stage for the second year in a row.

The Senegal Boys team did not qualify for the inaugural event that was staged in Durban, South Africa at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, but made a first appearance at the continental finals last year.

There they made the semifinals and ended up taking home the bronze medal, something they will be looking to build on in this year’s finals.

Senegal were so close to a place in the decider as they took on fellow west African side Guinea, but following a goalless draw, were defeated 4-3 on penalties.

In the boys’ bronze medal contest, Senegal and Benin played out to an evenly balanced 0-0 draw, which again had to be decided on penalties, and this time Senegal emerged victorious 5-3.

They earned their place in this year’s continental finals as they powered their way past The Gambia in the Boys competition with a commanding 2-0 victory to take the title for a second season in a row.  

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals:

• 2022-23: Did not qualify
• 2023-24: Third  

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship WAFU A zonal finals:

• 2022-23: Group Stages
• 2023-24: Winners  

2024-25: Winners

South Africa

• Zonal Union: COSAFA
• Past appearances (2): 2023, 2024

South Africa return to the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals for the third year in a row having been ever-presents at this stage of the competition.

They competed as Clapham High School in the inaugural event staged in Durban and finished runners-up, before a group stage exit in last year’s competition in Dar es Salaam.

 
They return to the continental stage having made it a hat-trick of wins in their zonal COSAFA championships which were staged in Namibia last October.

The side edged Zambia 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the final in Walvis Bay, having gone through the group stages with a full haul of nine points and zero goals conceded.

They play a structured style of football with good, technical players, but perhaps lack the physicality of teams from other parts of the continent.

They will hope to make it third time lucky in Accra and take their regional dominance to the continental stage. 
    

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals:

• 2022-23: Runners-Up
• 2023-24: Group Stage  

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship COSAFA zonal finals:

• 2022-23: Winners
• 2023-24: Winners  

2024-25: Winners

Tanzania

• Zonal Union: CECAFA
• Past appearances (1): 2024

Tanzania will defend their CAF African Schools Football Championship Boys title when they take to the pitch in Ghana this year.
The team lifted the continental title on home soil last year when they edged Guinea 1-0 in the decider in Zanzibar to spark great scenes of celebration. 

A packed Amaan Stadium bore witness to African youth football history being made when Tanzania were crowned champions in front of their home supporters

The excellent Abel Samson was named Player of the Tournament and Mujahid Juma won Best Goalkeeper in a commanding display from the home side.

They had taken their place at the finals as hosts, having finished runners-up in their CECAFA regional qualifiers.

 
They make a return to the continental finals this year as holders but also won their regional qualifiers when they finished ahead of Uganda to lift that trophy for the first time.

Their victory was secured thanks to a 2-0 win over Rwanda. That win, combined with a goalless draw between Somalia and Burundi, saw them finish level on six points with Uganda.

However, Tanzania's superior goal difference clinched the title.
 

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals:

• 2022-23: Did not qualify
• 2023-24: Winners

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA zonal finals:

• 2022-23: Group Stages
• 2023-24: Runners-Up  

2024-25: Winners

Uganda

• Zonal Union: CECAFA
• Past appearances (2): 2023, 2024
  
  

Uganda’s Boys will appear at the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals for a third year in a row, though this time it will not be as champions of the CECAFA region.

Uganda were represented by Royal Giant High School at the inaugural continental finals in Durban, South Africa in the 2022-23 campaign, but did not make it past the group stages.

They returned for the 2023-24 edition after winning the CECAFA qualifiers following a penalty shoot-out victory over Tanzania in the decider. The final in Nairobi finished 1-1, with Uganda triumphing 4-2 via spot-kicks.

Once again, they could not advance past the group stages though, something that will be a key target for this year.

 
In the 2024-25 qualifiers, it was Tanzania who took the title as they edged Uganda on goal-difference in the pool to lift the trophy.

 
However, as Tanzania had already qualified as continental holders in the Boys category, Uganda earned the berth allocated for the CECAFA qualifiers. 
   

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals:

• 2022-23: Group Stages
• 2023-24: Group Stages

Record at the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA zonal finals:

• 2022-23: Winners
• 2023-24: Winners  

2024-25: Runners-Up