South Africa and Angola will face-off in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 | COSAFA Qualifier in Harare on Saturday, safe in the knowledge they have already booked their places at the continental finals. South Africa defeated Comoros 7-0 and Angola edged Mozambique 1-0 in a Lusophone Derby in Thursday’s semifinals to seal their spots in the decider at the Ngoni Stadium (KO 14h00 CAT; 12h00 GMT). There is still a chance for the two last-4 losers to earn their place at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 AFCON 2026 when they meet in the third-place play-off that will also be staged on Saturday (11h00 CAT; 09h00 GMT). COSAFA will have three representatives again at the continental finals, where they will in turn hope to be among the 10 nations from Africa at the expanded 48-team FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar next year. Both of Saturday’s matches will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow all the action from this dedicated tournament page. South Africa were 2-0 up inside five minutes of their semifinal with Comoros and never looked back for their biggest win of the competition. Aphelele Majola put them in front before Omphemetse Sekgoto scored the first of his two goals as they led 3-0 at halftime. Mpho Mbilini netted a brace in the second half before Thandanani Mhlongo took his tally of goals in the tournament to five with another strike. He is two behind Golden Boot leader Pedro Antonio from Angola. Ntokozo Madondo, making his first start in the competition, rounded out the goalscoring. It was a much tighter affair in the second semifinal as Angola edged their rivals 1-0. Eliseu Francisco scored the only goal of the game after 10 minutes in a closely fought contest. South Africa will be seeking a record-equalling fourth COSAFA Under-17 crown in the final, while Angola will hope to add to their two previous wins. South Africa’s last trophy win came in 2020 and Angola the following year. Cosafa
Power Dynamos are set to leave for Ivory Coast on Tuesday afternoon. The Zambian Champions will face Asec Mimosas on Saturday in the second leg of the preliminary round of CAF Champions League. Osward Mutapa’s men had their final training session in Lusaka on Edwin Imboela Stadium on Tuesday morning. Power beat Asec Mimosas 1-0 in the first leg. The winner over two legs will meet either African Stars of Namibia or Vipers SC of Uganda in the second preliminary round. The Kitwe giants last participated in the CAF Champions League in the 2023/2024 season and were only eliminated on away goals rule after a 3-3 draw against Simba in the second round. Prior to that it was 2012 where they were eliminated in the second round after a 7-1 aggregate bashing by TP Mazembe. Meanwhile Asec Mimosas won the Competition in 1998 and have participated in about 15 editions. Abayellow will look to go further this year with the lucrative group stage being the target. Two clubs have received byes to the second round – Al Ahly of Egypt and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. Teams that exit in the first two rounds will this season receive USD 100,000 to cover their logistical costs as CAF seeks to encourage more clubs to take part. COMPETITION TIMELINE Preliminary Round: First Leg – 19–21 September 2025; Second Leg – 26–28 September 2025 Second Preliminary Round: First Leg – 17–19 October 2025; Second Leg – 24–26 October 2025 Group Stage: Begins 21 November 2025 Knockout Phase: Starts 13 March 2026
The Zambia Under-20 Women’s National Football Team has stated it will not underestimate Burundi in the return leg of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup second-round qualifier. Speaking to ZNBC News, Assistant Coach Wisdom Kaira described Burundi as a strong side and emphasized that the team is determined to finish the job on home soil. Kaira noted that carrying a 2–1 advantage into the return leg is a positive position, but stressed that the team remains focused on securing qualification to the next round at all costs. He also called on football fans to show up in large numbers for the crucial match. Meanwhile, defender Kampamba Mulenga, who earned her first call-up to the squad, expressed joy at contributing to the team’s away victory. Mulenga said that playing for the national team is a dream come true. The return leg will take place on Saturday, September 27, at 15:00 hours at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Chansa Kunda, ZNBC
2022 WAFCON heroine Hazel Natasha Nali has returned to the Copper Queens set after a 3 year absence . Nali is among the 42 local players summoned for assessment ahead of next month’s 2026 TotalEnergies Morocco 2026 CAF Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Namibia. Nali suffered laxity in the Medial Collateral Ligament and a complete tear of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) prior to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Zambian international then underwent Surgery in Christchurch, New Zealand on August 16th, 2023 after which she embarked on a phase of post-surgery rehabilitation and physiotherapy. She was part of the ZESCO Ndola Girls squad at the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League| COSAFA Qualifiers and seems to have taken over the number one spot at Zegalicious. Häuptle has also handed call ups to Nchanga Rangers goalkeeper Agness Fabiola Banda, U20 duo of goalkeeper Mwila Mufunte and Defender Margaret Gondwe. Others are Ms Hat-trick, Maylan Mulenga, Maweta Chilenga, Natasha Witika of Konkola Blades Queens, Green Eagles’ goal getter Rachel Moono and Ngosa Chabwe of Indeni Roses. Rachael Nachula is part of the local squad as she is currently in the country and playing for Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club. Foreign based players will join camp in the final stages of the preparations when the FIFA window opens on October 20. The October 22 away match to Namibia will be played at Dobsonville Stadium in South Africa, as Namibia currently has no FIFA approved stadium. Zambia will host Namibia four days later in the final leg at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. The winner over two legs will qualify to the Morocco 2026 CAF Women Africa Cup of Nations which takes place in March and will be a qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women World Cup. FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD (GOALKEEPERS) Agness Banda (Nchanga Queens), Catherine Musonda (Red Arrows), Ng’ambo Musole, Mufunte Chishala (both Green Buffaloes), Hazel Nali, Annie Namoonje (both Zesco Ndola Girls), Eunice Sakala (Indeni Roses) (DEFENDERS) Margaret Belemu (Red Arrows), Josephine Lubinda (Choma Warriors), Blessings Maluba (Nchanga Queens), Esther Muchinga, Judith Soko (both Zesco Ndola Girls), Matildah Mukunda (Elite Ladies), Saliya Mwanza (Elite Ladies), Rachael Nachula (Hapoel Jerusalem-Israel), Esther Siamfuko, Memory Nthala, Margaret Gondwe (all Green Buffaloes), Justina Zulu, Pauline Zulu (both Zanaco Ladies), (MIDFIELDERS) Rhodah Chileshe (Indeni Roses), Avell Chitundu (Zesco Ndola Girls), Evarine Katongo, Hellen Chanda, Maweta Chilenga, Natasha Nanyangwe (all Green Buffaloes), Mary Mambwe, Mary Wilombe (both Red Arrows), Natasha Witika (Konkola Blades Queens), (ATTACKERS) Chabwe Ngosa (Indeni Roses), Mercy Chipasula, Mwangala Namakau (both Kamfinsa Police), Penelope Mulubwa, Fridah Kabwe, Mary Mbewe (all Zesco Ndola Girls), Medrine Lukhelo (Trident Queens), Eneles Phiri (Zesco Ndola Girls), Regina Chanda (Zanaco Ladies), Rachael Moono (Green Eagles), Maylan Mulenga, Agness Phiri (both Green Buffaloes), Ruth Ngoma (Zanaco Ladies),