COSAFA Confirms Groups for 2026 U-17 AFCON Qualifiers

Zambia won the 2024 COSAFA U-17 Championship. (Photo via COSAFA media)

The draw for the 2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) COSAFA Qualifiers has been confirmed, with 12 teams set to battle it out for a spot at the continental tournament.

Group A features hosts Zimbabwe from September 11 to 20, 2025, alongside Mozambique, Comoros, and Eswatini in what promises to be a competitive opening pool.

In Group B, regional heavyweights and defending champions Zambia have been drawn against South Africa, Madagascar, and Malawi, setting the stage for intense rivalries.

Group C includes Angola, Botswana, Mauritius, and Lesotho — four sides eager to make a mark on the youth stage.

Only the top teams from each group, along with the best-placed runner-up, will advance to the knockout stages, where three tickets to the 2026 U-17 AFCON will be up for grabs.

Calvin Kaumba Chikenge August 5, 2025

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Calvin Kaumba Chikenge is an award-winning Zambian multimedia sports journalist well known for his exclusive stories and feature writing. He was voted 2023/24 MTN/FAZ Super League journalist of the year. In addition to reporting on sports for Spring TV, he interned for the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper. He is the current Ballon d'Or juror and has contributed to numerous international publications, including the Guardian in the UK, and is the editor of BolaNews.