Next generation of match officials to be unearthed at CAF African Schools Football Championship

A new generation of young African match officials is set to be unearthed thanks to CAF’s forward thinking and innovative youth football competition, the CAF African Schools Football Championship.

The second season of the CAF African Schools Football Championship recently concluded its Zonal Phase where 12 winners, equally split between boys and girls under the age of 15 earned their place in the upcoming CAF African Schools Football Championship Finals scheduled for 21 – 24 May 2024 in Zanzibar.

While providing an opportunity to compete internationally at a young age is a key focus area of the competition, at the heart of the programme envisioned by CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe is the investment of Youth in Africa and the development of future African leaders.

For this reason, part of the various capacity building programmes that run concurrently to the on-field football action is the CAF Young Referee’s Programme, which sees teenage boys and girls being gradually inducted into the CAF Refereeing structures

The CAF Young Referee’s Programme comes at the realisation that not all aspiring footballers will turn professional, but through such programmes, they can still remain a part of the beautiful game.

Key to the programme at this level is the basic introduction and understanding of the Laws of the Game, which is accompanied by practical illustrations led by highly experienced CAF Refereeing instructors.

With each of all six CAF’s zonal unions having held a Young Referee’s Programme during the African Schools Football Championship Zonal Qualifiers, the Finals in Zanzibar are set to be an exciting platform for CAF to showcase the next generation of young African match officials.  

The CAF African Schools Football Championship Features boys and girls under the age of 15 and is a first for world football. The innovative programme and addition to CAF’s Youth football competitions is a brainchild of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe - in line with his vision of Investing in the Youth of Africa.