Lowdown on the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier

When: October 11-13, 2024
Where: Jan Wilken Stadium, Walvis Bay
What: CAF African Schools Championship | COSAFA Qualifier
How to follow online: FIFA+

The COSAFA qualifier for the 2024/25 CAF African Schools Championship will be played over three days in Walvis Bay, Namibia from Friday, where some of the best youngsters in the Under-15 age category will be able to showcase their talent and win a place at the continental finals.

WHO IS PLAYING?
There are eight teams in the Boys’ and Girls’ competition made up of players selected from the national phase of the competition:
Angola
Eswatini
Lesotho
Malawi
Namibia
South Africa
Zambia
Zimbabwe

WHAT IS THE FORMAT?
The teams will be split into two pools, each containing four teams. They play each other in a round-robin format and will earn three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals. There will be no third-place play-off this year.

ELIGIBILITY
a. All students must be a maximum of 15 years old by the end of the calendar year in which the continental finals of the Championship is played (i.e. all players of the teams were born on or after 1 January 2010).

b. All students must be at least 14 years old by the end of the calendar year in which the continental final of the Championship is played. (i.e. all players of the teams were born on or after 31 December 2011).

THE WHITE CARD
CAF have introduced a ‘white card’ system which is in place to promote Fair Play among the teams. These will contribute towards the Fair Play score at the end of the qualifiers. Coaches and spectators can also receive white cards. Players can receive white cards from match officials in the following instances:
a. Apologises to the opponent sincerely and with remorse after inappropriate conduct.

b. Acknowledges in a public and dignified manner an offence he has just committed, assisting the referee in controlling the match.

c. Publicly and voluntarily restores the truth if the referee has made a mistake, assisting the referee in clarifying dubious situations.

d. Assists the opponent in a situation where he urgently needs help.

e. Respects the more dubious referee’s decisions.

f. Encourages and motivates teammates when they fail at important moments of the match.

g. Respects others, even when provoked, ensuring the wellbeing of all.

h. Recognises the value of the opponent and congratulates him after an important move, raising the spirit of the game.

i. Maintains humility and simplicity in victory

j. Verifies that there is a problem with the opponent’s equipment and provides his own

k. Takes the initiative to play on an equal footing even when the rules and code of conduct are in their favour.

l. demonstrates a set of important values for life, on and off the field.

m. Promotes a healthy atmosphere with opponents before and after the match.

n. Integrates and sets a good example (conduct) to the younger.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS FOR THIS COMPETITION?
Unlike in previous years, both the Boys’ and Girls’ competitions will be played on full pitches and with 11 per side. Matches last 40 minutes, two periods of 20 minutes separated by a 10-minute break. One of the features of the fixtures is that there are unlimited substitutions, meaning coaches can keep rotating the players they have on the pitch. All squad members must be used in all the group matches so that each player is given an opportunity to play.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
There are various other activities that will take place around the competition.

Young Referees Workshop
A workshop for young referees, giving participants a life-changing opportunity to be schooled by some of the best on the continent and set them on a path to a long career as an official. There will be both a practical and theory element to the course that will be staged over the four days.

Young Reporters Workshop
Budding media moguls will be taken through their paces in a workshop for journalists that gives them an insight into every aspect of running a media campaign at a major competition.

Young Coaches Workshop
A three-day course for young coaches, another excellent chance to upskill budding tacticians through the knowledge and insight of some of the best practitioners on the continent.

Safeguarding Workshop
All the boys and girls at the event will be taken through safeguarding activities at some to not only provide them with information on the social impact of football, but also explain the measures that CAF have put in place to create a safe environment for the children.