Ghana Wins CAF African Football Schools Championship, Set to Earn $300,000
· YEN.com.gh News · Join- Ghana’s Under-15 girls have been crowned champions of the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship
- The Black Damsels defeated Burkina Faso in the final to secure the title for the second consecutive edition
- Winners in both the boys’ and girls’ categories receive significant prize money, underlining the competition’s growing importance
- A CAF-accredited journalist has urged the GFA to take proactive steps to ensure a smooth transition into professional football for the players
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Ghana’s Black Damsels have been crowned champions of the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship after a dramatic final victory in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The Under-15 girls held their nerve to beat the Burkina Faso national under-15 team 10-9 on penalties after a tense goalless draw, sealing back-to-back titles in the competition.
Source: Twitter
Ghana edge Burkina to retain title
The final was a tightly contested affair, with both sides cancelling each other out over 40 minutes of intense football.
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Having lost to the same opponents in the group stage, Ghana showed resilience to force the game into a shootout.
In the end, it came down to sudden death. The Damsels kept their composure to edge Burkina Faso and complete a hard-fought revenge mission, according to Ghanasoccernet.
Their route to the final underlined their quality. Ghana opened their campaign with a commanding 6-0 win over Guinea before securing a 2-1 victory against Tanzania.
A narrow 1-0 defeat to Burkina Faso in their final group game did little damage, as they progressed to the semi-finals.
There, they beat Zambia by a lone goal to set up a rematch in the final.
CAF AFSC: How much Ghana earned
Beyond the trophy, Ghana’s triumph comes with a significant financial reward.
According to CAF Online, the Damsels, winners of the tournament for the second year running, receive $300,000, while Burkina Faso takes home $200,000 as runners-up. Third-place teams each earn $150,000.
CAF has made it clear that the prize money is reserved for development, with funds directed into grassroots football and education projects.
Source: Twitter
The competition itself continues to grow in stature. Launched in 2022 by Patrice Motsepe in Maputo, the CAF African Schools Football Championship has engaged more than 1.9 million young players across 46 countries.
For Ghana’s Black Damsels, this latest success is not just about silverware. It is another sign of a promising future taking shape at the grassroots level.
GFA urged to take active steps
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been urged to take decisive steps to guide these young talents into the professional ranks, with a clear warning that their progress must not stall after early success.
Speaking to YEN.com.gh, journalist Fitman Jaarah, who covered the competition last year, stressed the importance of a well-structured transition phase:
“The GFA must be intentional about what comes next for these players. Winning at the youth level is important, but the real work begins now - ensuring they transition smoothly into professional football.
"That means creating structured pathways for these young lasses, providing proper mentorship, and guaranteeing consistent opportunities at the club level.
"If we get this phase right, Ghana stands to benefit from a new generation of top-level talent in the years ahead.”
Ghana wins U17 WAFU Cup
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Black Maidens, Ghana’s U-17 women’s team, defeated Nigeria’s U-17 side to win the WAFU Cup in Accra in December 2024.
The maiden edition of the tournament was successfully hosted at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence.
Source: YEN.com.gh