Danone Southern Africa champions young talent for CAF African Schools Football Championship

As an Official Partner for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, Danone, a global leader in nutrition has joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in successfully delivering an impactful Nutrition Workshop Activation on the sidelines of the CAF African Schools Football Championship – COSAFA Qualifiers, held from 5–7 December 2025 at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa.

As part of the wider CAF African Schools Programme, this initiative aims to empower young athletes with essential knowledge and practical tools to support their development both on and off the pitch.

Danone Southern Africa conducted interactive nutrition workshops and distributed educational resources to 400 young athletes representing 10 participating COSAFA Member Associations: Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The initiative focuses on choosing healthy, affordable foods, the benefits of dairy in post-training recovery and practical nutrition tips for young players.

This collaboration highlights both organizations commitment to supporting holistic youth development—integrating sport, education, health, and life skills to prepare the next generation of African champions.

“As the local market leader in fermented dairy products, we are committed to creating a healthier future in Southern Africa and addressing nutrition challenges such as micronutrient deficiencies and rising obesity rates. Every product in our portfolio is designed with local nutrition needs in mind—controlling nutrients of concern like sugar and sodium, while adding essential nutrients. For example, NutriDay is enriched with 11 vitamins and zinc,” says Leanne Kiezer, Danone’s Dietitian and Head of Public Affairs.

“CAF is deeply committed to creating an enabling environment for young African players to grow not only as athletes, but as healthy, informed individuals. We are grateful for the partnership with Danone Southern Africa in delivering such a meaningful and educational workshop. I would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to COSAFA for their continued cooperation and support in ensuring the success of the African Schools Football Championship in the region. Together, we are building a stronger pathway for youth development across the continent.” states Sarah Mukuna, Director of Member Associations Division, CAF.

The same nutrition workshop activation will also be replicated in Egypt during the upcoming North Zone phase of the CAF African Schools Football Championship, extending the initiative’s impact to even more young players across Africa.

 

About Danone Southern Africa
Since 1995, Danone Southern Africa (www.danone.co.za) has been committed to bringing health through food to as many people as possible. As a leading food and beverage company, Danone Southern Africa offers a wide range of essential dairy products, including Nutriday, Ultramel, DanUp, and YogiSip. Driven by a strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and social impact, Danone Southern Africa continually strives to develop solutions that promote healthier living while reducing its environmental footprint. The company’s dedication to these values is further demonstrated through its recent B Corp certification in South Africa, which highlights Danone’s efforts to balance profit with purpose. As part of its ongoing impact journey, Danone remains focused on fostering innovation that benefits both people and the planet. To learn more about Danone’s impact and journey towards a more sustainable future, visit www.danone.co.za.

About CAF
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is the continental governing body for football in Africa, responsible for organizing elite competitions and driving the development of the sport at all levels. CAF brings together 54 Member Associations, working to strengthen football structures, promote youth development, and support the growth of the game across the continent.
As part of its commitment to nurturing the next generation of African talent, CAF oversees the CAF African Schools Football Championship, a flagship grassroots initiative that combines football, education, and life-skills training to empower young players in every region of Africa

About COSAFA
The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) is one of the Zonal Unions officially recognised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Originally established by the Supreme Council of Sports in Africa – Zone 6, COSAFA brings together 14 Southern African nations under a unified structure to support and advance CAF’s mission of developing football across the continent. Through competitions, development programmes, and capacity-building initiatives, COSAFA plays a key role in implementing CAF’s youth and grassroots football strategies in the Southern African region.