The TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 | COSAFA Qualifiers were recently staged in Harare, Zimbabwe to full stadiums and an incredible atmosphere. Stands were packed at the Ngoni Stadium despite the host nation going out in the group stages, and it was a reminder again, if one was needed, just what a football-loving country Zimbabwe is.

South Africa took home the trophy for a record-equaling fourth time, drawing them level with Zambia on the all-time list, with a squad that was put together just days before the tournament started.

They qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026, along with runners-up Angola and Mozambique, who took the bronze medal. The trio will represent the COSAFA region on the continental stage and we hope will be three of the 10 African nations who will qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar next year.

We will hear from all three of their coaches, starting with South Africa’s Vela Khumalo, who had just a few training sessions to get his side ready for competition.

Angola coach Mario Catala was disappointed his side could only take home the silver medal despite an excellent run to the final in which they scored 18 goals in four games and did not conceded a single one. But his pre-tournament aim was also to qualify for the continental finals, and that was achieved.

Mozambique coach Luis Guerreiro had to settle for the bronze medal but he too can look forward to a place in the continental finals after the Young Mambas beat Comoros 3-0 in the third-place play-off.