Group Stage Concludes with Semi-Final Spots Decided
The group stage of the CAF African Schools Football Championship concluded on Tuesday, confirming the eight teams that will progress to the semi-finals in both the boys’ and girls’ competitions.
Matches held at Gateway High School determined the final standings, with several teams delivering commanding performances to secure their places in the knockout phase.
In the boys’ category, Uganda, Benin, Morocco and Senegal advanced, while Zambia, Morocco, Burkina Faso and defending champions Ghana progressed in the girls’ tournament.
Uganda and Senegal Lead Strong Performances in Boys’ Competition
Uganda emerged as one of the standout sides in the boys’ division, finishing top of Group A with seven points. Their campaign included a convincing 3-0 victory over Morocco and an earlier 6-0 win against DR Congo, underlining their attacking strength and defensive solidity.
Morocco secured second place in the group with six points, doing enough across their fixtures, including an important victory over hosts Zimbabwe, to ensure qualification.
Zimbabwe showed resilience, managing draws against both Uganda and DR Congo, but ultimately fell short of the points required to progress. DR Congo, meanwhile, endured a challenging tournament and failed to register a competitive push for qualification.
In Group B, Senegal continued their impressive form from the previous edition, finishing top with seven points. A narrow 1-0 victory over Benin and a 1-1 draw against Zambia ensured they remained unbeaten.
Benin claimed the second semi-final spot from the group with four points, edging past both Tanzania, the defending champions, and Zambia, who each finished with two points.
Zambia and Burkina Faso Impress in Girls’ Division
The girls’ competition saw Zambia produce one of the most dominant displays of the tournament, finishing top of Group A with a perfect nine points from three matches. Their consistency was highlighted by a key victory over Morocco, who secured second place with four points.
DR Congo and hosts Zimbabwe were unable to break into the top two despite determined efforts throughout the group stage.
Group B was topped by Burkina Faso, who collected seven points and maintained an unbeaten record. A crucial victory over defending champions Ghana ensured they finished first in the group.
Ghana, however, did enough to progress as runners-up with six points, aided by a commanding win over Guinea earlier in the competition.
Knockout Stage Awaits
With the group phase now complete, attention shifts to the semi-finals, scheduled to take place on Thursday, 10 April. The fixtures promise a high level of competition, with several teams demonstrating strong form heading into the decisive stage.
Before then, teams that did not qualify for the semi-finals will have an opportunity to compete in placement matches on Wednesday, offering them a chance to improve their final standings.
Title Race Intensifies in Zimbabwe
As the tournament moves into its final stages, the remaining teams will be aiming to maintain momentum and convert their group-stage success into silverware.
With standout performances already witnessed across both competitions, the semi-finals are set to provide a compelling continuation of the championship, as Africa’s emerging football talent competes for continental honours.
