Individual award winners at the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier
The CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier South Africa 2025 will give youngsters in the Under-15 age-group another chance to showcase their skills on the international stage and perhaps put them on the path to a professional career in the game.
The qualifier will take place in Stellenbosch from December 5-7 with the winners to advance to the continental finals next year, where they will hope to become the best in Africa.
The tournament is now in its fourth year, with the first three editions played in Lilongwe, Malawi, Harare, Zimbabwe and Walvis Bay, Namibia.
We recap of the individual award winners over the last three years.
BOYS’ COMPETITION
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
2022 – Kgaogelo Monanyane (Clapham High School, South Africa)
Monanyane has gone on to be capped at national Under-17 level by South Africa and was part of the team that competed at the U17 AFCON in 2025. He is in the junior set-up at Mamelodi Sundowns.
2023 – Inganathi Simama (South Africa)
Another who has gone on to play for the South African Under-17 side, he was part of the team that won the 2025 COSAFA Under-17 Championship. He is currently with Ubuntu Football Academy.
2024 – Tenani Simfukwe (Zambia)
The young player has a bright future ahead of him and it will be fascinating to see how he develops in the coming years.
GOLDEN BOOT
2022 – Ishumael Bwanali (Salima Secondary School, Malawi) – 5 goals
We will be keeping tabs on the progress of this forward after his exploits at the inaugural CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier in Malawi.
2023 – El Shaddai Sadomba (Zimbabwe) – 6 goals
Sadomba has played for Zimbabwe at national Under017 level and become a player in that age group for them. The son of former Warriors striker Edward Sadomba, he has been on trials in South Africa and is set for a big future in the game.
2024 – Okester Kanyenda (Malawi) – 4 goals
The Golden Boot winner from 2024 in Walvis Bay has already made the step up to the Malawi Under-17 side and hails from the MK Football Academy.
GOLDEN GLOVE
2022 – Kamogelo Phokela (Clapham High School, South Africa)
Phokela was outstanding int his tournament for Clapham High School and played a big part in his side lifting the trophy.
2023 – Sabrie Losper (South Africa)
Losper is now at Cape Town City and also made the preliminary squad for South Africa for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar. He continues to develop.
2024 – William Zulu (Zambia)
Zulu is still only 15 but has already been drafted into the Zambia national Under-17 side and is a player of huge promise.
GIRLS’ COMPETITION
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
2022 – Victoria Nkwala (Malindi Secondary School, Malawi)
Nkwala has made a rapid rise and was part of the Malawi Under-20 Women’s team that played at the Region 5 Games in Windhoek, Namibia this year. She netted a goal against Zimbabwe to underline her potential.
2023 – Katleho Malebana (South Africa)
Malebana’s rise has been meteoric and she has already made her debut for the senior South Africa national side in a friendly against Lesotho in February 2025 just days pat her 16th birthday. She also plays for top South African club Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
2024 – Leonay Kock (South Africa)
Kock hails from the Northern Cape but is now part of the SAFA Academy. She has played for the South African Under-17 side despite the fact she has only just turned 15 and is one of the most exciting players in the South African game.
GOLDEN BOOT
2022 – Nobahle Mdelwa (Edendale Technical School, South Africa) – 14 goals
Mdelwa is another who saw a rapid rise and played for the South African senior side at the 2024 COSAFA Women’s Championship, scoring against Eswatini. She also featured in the Under-17 (2022) and Under-20 (2024) COSAFA Women’s Championships. She is a true star on the rise.
2023 – Khwezi Khoza (South Africa) – 11 goals
Khoza has been performing well in the Hollywoodbets Super League for Durban Ladies, so much so she was nominated in the Young Player of the Season category for 2024.
2024 – Leonay Kock (South Africa) – 11 goals
As previously stated, the future for Kock is bright and she will be a key player for Banyana Banyana if she continues to develop.
GOLDEN GLOVE
2022 – Emily Maulidi (Malindi Secondary School, Malawi)
Maulidi did not concede a single goal in their team’s four games at the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier Malawi 2022, and only an administrative error costing them a place in the continental finals.
2023 – Angel Zibula (South Africa)
South Africa only conceded a single goal in the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier Zimbabwe 2023 competition and that came in the final against Botswana when they went on to win 3-1.
2024 – Mia Heneke (South Africa)
Heneke was outstanding throughout for South Africa as they lifted the trophy, including in the final against Malawi as they won 3-1.