Africa-Press – Botswana. A thrilling opening day of the 2023 CAF African Schools Football Championship COSAFA Qualifiers in Harare saw youngsters from around the COSAFA Zone showcase their quality in a festival atmosphere on Thursday.
There were some big wins but also tight contents as teams found their feet at the Gateway High School, with another 20 pool games to be staged on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s finals in the Boys’ and Girls’ competitions.
The second season of the innovative youth football competition by CAF is currently in the exciting Zonal Qualifier phase with WAFU B as well as CECAFA recently concluding their editions.
In addition to the exciting display of talent, CAF is once again spearheading a number of capacity building programmes that are running concurrently to the tournament. These include the Young Reporters Programme, Young Referees Programme, Young Medical Officers Programme as well as the Coaching Programme.
After an eventful afternoon of youth football, Zimbabwe and Malawi head Group A with six points, though the hosts have played a game more and it is the learners from the latter who hold the upper hand.
That comes after Malawi thumped Zimbabwe 4-0 in their opener, though the home side, roared on by an enthusiastic local crowd, recovered to record wins over Botswana (4-1) and Eswatini (3-1).
Malawi, with several players who competed last year for Salima Secondary School, were impressive as they also recorded a 3-0 win over Mozambique.
It will be all to play for on day two, with Mozambique also having defeated Eswatini 2-1.
South Africa secured six points from their two games in Group B with the match against Zambia being a walk-over.
In the game they did play, they defeated Angola 7-0 as Rhys Ferguson scored a hattrick in an impressive display from a side dominated by players from the Ubuntu Football Academy School in Cape Town.
Namibia also have six points after they claimed an impressive victory over Madagascar (2-0) and also got a walkover result against Zambia.
Botswana top Group A in the Girls’ competition after a pair of wins on the opening day over Eswatini (5-1) and Zimbabwe (1-0).
Malawi have four points after they beat Zimbabwe 3-0 and drew with Mozambique (0-0) in what is shaping up to be a competitive pool. But the hosts have work to do on the second day to get back in contention for top spot.
South Africa have the lead in Group B so far after a 14-0 victory over Angola to give them the advantage at the top of the pool, having also profited from a walkover result against Zambia.
Namibia are second in the pool with four points having drawn 0-0 with Madagascar and had a walkover win against Zambia.
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