Zambia to show potential at CAF schools qualifier in Stellenbosch

Zambia have long been a powerhouse in the Southern African region at all levels and will be looking to cement that status when they take part in the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier in Stellenbosch, South Africa from December 5-7.

Their teams in the previous two editions have been hampered by travel issues, but the Boys reached the 2024 final in Walvis Bay, Namibia, only to lose on penalties to South Africa.

Zambia did not have entrants in the inaugural event in Lilongwe, Malawi in 2022, but did participate when the zonal qualifier was held in Harare, Zimbabwe the following year. Travel problems meant the Boys and Girls teams arrived only after the competition had begun and had to forfeit their first two games, putting them on the back foot in the race for a place in the final.

The Boys team then beat Angola (2-1) but lost to Madagascar (1-2) and did not reach the decider. The Girls team beat Angola 8-0 and Madagascar 3-0 to showcase their potential, but it was not enough to make the final.

It was similar in 2024 as the Boys missed their opening game with hosts Lesotho, but then recorded wins over hosts Namibia (1-0) and Malawi (3-0) to secure a place in the semi-finals. There they defeated Eswatini (1-0), which set up a meeting in the final with South Africa, and after a hard-fought 1-1 draw it was the latter who triumphed 4-2 via spot-kicks.

The Girls team did not manage to make it to Walvis Bay at all and forfeited all their fixtures.

Zambia are four-time winners of the COSAFA Under-17 Championship, have won the U20 title on a record 13 occasions and the senior men’s championship a record seven times. They have also won the Women’s Under-17 Championship a record three times, along with two wins in the U20 age group, and lifted the senior women’s title in 2022 and 2024.

The draw for this year’s 11-team tournament will be made a few days before the competition.

ZAMBIA’S PAST FINISHES
BOYS
2022: Did not enter
2023: Group Stage
2024: Runners-up

GIRLS
2022: Did not enter
2023: Group Stage
2024: Group Stage

ZAMBIA’S PAST RESULTS
BOYS
2023
Zambia 0-3 Namibia*
South Africa 3-0 Zambia*
Angola 1-2 Zambia
Zambia 1-2 Madagascar
*Awarded as a 3-0 walkover as Zambia were not present.

2024
Zambia 0-3 Lesotho*
Namibia 0-1 Zambia
Zambia 3-0 Malawi
Zambia 1-0 Eswatini
Zambia 1-1 South Africa – SA won 4-2 on penalties
*Awarded as a 3-0 walkover as Zambia were not present.

GIRLS
2023
Zambia 0-3 Namibia*
South Africa 3-0 Zambia*
Angola 0-8 Zambia
Zambia 3-0 Madagascar
*Awarded as a 3-0 walkover as Zambia were not present.

2024
Zambia 0-3 Lesotho*
Namibia 3-0 Zambia*
Malawi 3-0 Zambia*
*Awarded as a 3-0 walkover as Zambia were not present.