IFFHS CONTINENTAL NEWS - CAF
Guinea, Tanzania win pioneer CAF African Schools Championships.
CS Ben Sekou Sylla of Guinea and Fountain Gate School of Tanzania have won the boys’ and girls’ pioneer CAF African Schools Football Championships hosted by South Africa. Thanks to the USD 10-million donation by the Motsepe Foundation, each side took USD 300,000 home.
In the boys Durban final played on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Sekou Sylla defeated locals, Clapham High School following a 1-1 draw and ensuing penalty shootout at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium. Salima Secondary school of Malawi won the third spot match and a cash prize of USD 150,000 as they defeated CEG Sainte Rita of Benin 3-1.
In the girls tournament, Fountain Gate drowned Morocco’s Ecole Omar Ibn Khatab 3-0 to carry home the cash prize of USD 300,000. The losers collected USD 200,000. Scan Aid of Gambia won the third spot after defeating CSG de Mfilou on penalties 4-3 following a 0-0 full time situation.
Some worthy statistics of the pioneer tournament which CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe says is “…proud of all the young boys and girls that competed…the most successful football nations in the world invest in youth,” and that “…it is part of our commitment to develop football in every country of Africa…the money that the schools have won will be used to build football infrastructure for boys and girls so that they can develop further…” include:
Boys: Best player(Kagisco Maloka, Clapham High School); Best goalkeeper(Ibrahima Camara, CS Ben Sekou Sylla); Top Scorer(Mohamed Sacko, CS Ben Sekou Sylla, 6 goals); Fairplay(Ecole Belawech Boumerde, Algeria).
Girls: Best player(Wilifrida Gerald, Fountain Gate); Best goalkeeper(Allic Neckema, Fountain Gate); Top Scorer(Wilifrida Gerald, CS Ben Sekou Sylla, 11 goals); Fairplay(Anse Boileau, Seychelles).