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2025 COSAFA Under-17 Championship

The 2025 COSAFA U-17 Youth Championship (officially known as the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 — COSAFA Qualifiers) was the 13th edition of the COSAFA U-17 Youth Championship (and the 5th time the tournament served as the qualifiers for the continental final tournament), the international youth football championship organised by COSAFA for the men's under-17 national teams of Southern Africa. Zimbabwe was the host of the tournament.

Zambia were the defending champions, having defeated Angola 2–1 in the final of the previous edition, but failed to make it past the group stage. South Africa won their fourth title defeating Angola 2–1 in the final.

Participation

Participating teams

Twelve of the 14 COSAFA member nations entered the competition, which served as the regional qualifying tournament for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Note: All statistics exclude instances where the team was disqualified during the tournament.

Did not enter

Draw

The draw was held on 5 August 2025 at 11:30 CAT () at Johannesburg. The 12 teams were drawn into three groups of four teams, with hosts Zimbabwe seeded in Group A (position A1), the defending champions Zambia seeded in Group B (position B1) and Angola seeded in Group C (position C1). The remaining 9 teams were allocated to two pots based on the results of the previous tournament edition and were drawn to the remaining positions.

Squads

Each team was required to register a squad of 20 players for the tournament, with players born on or after 1 January 2009 eligible to participate.

Venues

Match officials

The following officials were appointed to officiate the tournament:

Referees
  • Nelson da Silva
  • Keabetswe Dintwa
  • Moustoifa Kalido
  • Lebalang Mokete
  • Josianno Todihajaniaina
  • Eness Gumbo
  • Godfrey Nkhakananga
  • Mweshitsama Naftal
  • Antsino Twanyanyukwa
  • Noris Arissol
  • Luxolo Badi
  • Hillary Hambaba
  • Thanks Nyahuye
  • Lawrence Zimondi
Assistant Referees
  • Ookeditse Keitseope
  • Moustoifa Elmahfoudhe
  • Zamani Simelane
  • Banele Thwala
  • Siza Dlangamandla
  • Lareunion Miladera
  • Samuel Fudzulani
  • Alex Lumponjani
  • Kgara Mokoena
  • Trywell Nyirenda
  • Dominica Melusi
Video Assistant Referees
  • Brighton Chimene
Assistant Video Assistant Referees
  • Alex Lumponjani
  • Shaji Padayachy
Notes

Group stage

COSAFA announced the tournament schedule on 19 August 2025.

The top team of each group, along with the best second-placed team, advanced to the semi-finals.

Group A

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Group B

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Group C

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Ranking of second-placed teams

The best second-placed team qualified for the semi-finals.

Knockout stage

Bracket

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Semi-finals

Winners qualified for 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Third place playoff

Winners qualified for 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Final

Goalscorers

The COSAFA Technical Study Group announced the group stage Best XI as follows:

Coach: Mario Catala

Awards

The COSAFA U-17 Championship technical study group selected the following as the best of the tournament.

Qualified teams for CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations

The following three teams from COSAFA qualified for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

See also

References

External links