Latest news with #CAFAfricanSchoolsChampionship
See - Sada Elbalad
18-05-2025
- Sport
- See - Sada Elbalad
EU, CAF Forge Landmark Partnership to Empower African Youth Through Football
Ahmed Emam In a step intended to strengthen youth development and visibility of European investments across Africa, the European Union (EU) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decided to ink a three-year cooperation and sponsorship agreement. The deal, which was formalized ahead of the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations Final in Cairo, is set to deepen collaboration between Europe and Africa through sport, education, and community engagement. Signed by European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, the agreement marks a strategic alliance between the EU and Africa's football governing body. It will channel support toward CAF's youth and safeguarding programmes while promoting the EU's Global Gateway initiative, which seeks to mobilize up to €150 billion in sustainable investments across Africa by 2027. At the heart of the partnership is the CAF African Schools Championship—Africa's largest youth football competition. Since its launch in 2022, the tournament has involved more than 1.9 million boys and girls from 46 countries. With the EU's backing, the competition is expected to expand to 33,000 schools, combining football with leadership training, education, and community involvement. The initiative is designed not only to foster talent on the pitch but to instill critical life values such as respect, perseverance, and teamwork. Prize money awarded to winners is reinvested into schools through infrastructure projects and educational resources. The EU-CAF agreement also bolsters efforts to protect young athletes through the continent-wide Safeguarding Programme, launched by CAF in 2022. The initiative includes the appointment of dedicated safeguarding officers in all 54 CAF member associations, training sessions on preventing exploitation and trafficking, and a series of awareness campaigns under the banner #ProtectTheDream. These measures aim to create safe environments for children and teenagers involved in football as they transition from grassroots to elite levels. Beyond youth competitions, the EU will be actively involved in several of CAF's flagship tournaments, including the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and 2026, the Men's AFCON in 2025 and 2027, and ongoing safeguarding and school-based activities. These events provide a significant platform for the EU to enhance its presence and reinforce its commitment to Africa's development goals. The partnership reflects a broader EU strategy to use sport as a driver for social change. Through the Global Gateway initiative, the EU is investing in areas ranging from renewable energy and digital infrastructure to education and healthcare. Projects such as the Lobito Corridor in Southern Africa, the Nachtigal Hydropower Plant in Cameroon, and vocational training programmes in Angola and Senegal underline Europe's long-term commitment to Africa's sustainable growth. Motsepe praised the agreement as a transformative step for African football and youth empowerment. 'Football is more than a game. It's a platform to build futures, strengthen communities, and create lasting partnerships,' he said. Commissioner Síkela echoed the sentiment, calling the partnership 'a bridge between continents' that will deliver impact where it's needed most. read more Japan Stun Spain 2-1 to Qualify for World Cup Last 16 World Cup 2022: Get to Know Confirmed Line-ups of Japan and Spain Group E Decider Saudi Arabia Bid Farewell to World Cup after 2-1 Loss to Mexico Tunisia Achieve Historic Win over France but Fail to Qualify Tunisia to Clash against France in World Cup Sports Get to Know Squad of Group D Teams in World Cup Sports Al Ahly Gift EGP 70,000 to Players After Claiming Egyptian Super Cup Title Sports Bencharki Hits First 2 Goals with Al Jazira Since Leaving Zamalek Sports Arsenal Possible Line-up for Nottingham Forest News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
CAF
07-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
CAF African Schools Football Championship Fact Sheet
With just a few days to go before the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) officially kicks off the third edition of the CAF African Schools Football Championship, CAFOnline takes a look at the growth and impact of the competition since its inaugural 2022 edition. About the CAF African Schools Football Championship The CAF African Schools Championship is a CAF programme development project that is focused on organised school football. Its sole aim is to create and sustain a continentally competitive school football competition that will encourage young Africans to stay in school and play football. The Programme strategically includes other support pillars that will increase the social impact of football and build the capacity of participating countries to manage football through training programmes. Vision: To create a future in football for every boy and girl in Africa. Mission: To collaborate with African schools and relevant government authorities to organise football related programs across Africa through our Member Associations. Purpose: To exploit the opportunities within the values of football to holistically develop African boys and girls. Pillars of the Programme: The Game: African Schools Championship is an organised schools' football competition that will be contested by schools in Africa annually. Social Impact: The programme will include support projects to use football as a passion focus point to address social issues in the communities around and within the participating schools. Capacity Building: The Programme seeks to work closely with the CAF member Associations in strengthening their capabilities to exercise their mandate in football governance. · The CAF African Schools Football Championship features Boys and Girls under the age of 15. · The 2023/24 edition reached 804,480 young Boys and Girls in from 28,862 schools across 44 countries have participated. · This is an increase of 40% from the inaugural edition. · 74% - The majority of players at the 2023/24 CAF African Schools Football Championship attended for the first time in the same year. · 72% percentage of players who travelled internationally for the first time as a result of participating in the CAF African Schools Football Championship. SEASON 1 2022/23 GIRLS SCHOOL BOYS SCHOOL TOTAL GIRLS PARTICIPANTS BOYS PARTICIPANTS TOTAL 7 201 10 563 17 764 179 899 263 795 443 694 SEASON 2 2023/24 12 276 16 586 28 862 306 900 497 680 804 480 SEASON 3 2024/25 14 868 20 983 35 851 297 360 419 660 717 020 COMBINED TOTAL 34 345 48 132 82 477 784 159 1 181 035 1 965 194 CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES The Capacity Building Programme focuses on skills and development and runs parallel to the CAF African Schools Football Championship Qualifiers and Continental Finals. The purpose of the Capacity Building programmes is to ensure that learners are developed holistically, both on and off the field. The programme also caters for school teachers who are the primary guardians of the learners during school hours. Programmes offered under the CAF Capacity Building Programme of the CAF African Schools Football Championship are the: Young Referees Programme for aspiring referees, Young Medical Officer Programme for aspiring sport physicians, Young Reporters Programme for aspiring media practitioners. The programme also caters for teachers and guardians involved in schools football development as follows: CAF D License Coaching to equip teachers with basic coaching education and knowledge as well as the CAF Safeguarding Programme to foster safe and secure environment for football development. CAPACITY BUILDING IN NUMBERS PROGRAMME 2022/23 2023/24 Young Reporters Programme 210 210 Young Referees Programme 140 120 Young Medical Officers Programme 175 300 CAF D-License 100 100 Safeguarding Officers Programme - 150 OTHER RESULTS FROM CONTINENTAL FINALS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME PROGRAMME NUMBER Young Referees 108 Medical Officers 110 Young Reporters 180 Coaches Programme 210 Leadership Programme 100 ZONAL PHASE Winners: USD 100 000 Runners-Up: USD 75 000 Bronze : USD 50 000 CONTINENTAL FINALS Winners: USD 300 000 Runners-Up: USD 200 000 Bronze : USD 150 000 POSITIVE IMPACT MADE BY CAF AFRICAN SCHOOLS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE MONIES The prize monies of the CAF African Schools Football Championship, which are courtesy of the Motsepe Foundation have contributed to the refurbishment and building of much-needed infrastructure across various schools in Africa. These include the refurbishment of classrooms, boreholes study centre, training pitches, cafeterias, purchasing of school buses, computers and sporting equipment by CAF Partners, PUMA. The CAF African Schools Football Championships has been supported by some of African football's greatest talents who have formed part of the various off the field development programmes. African football greats who have graced the tournament include Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria), Lucas Radebe, Amanda Dlamini, (South Africa) and Abdi Kassim Sadalla (Tanzania). As part of its innovative approach to youth football development and affording access, CAF distributes 800 PUMA match balls to all participating Member Associations of the competition.
