Football: Confédération Africaine de Football (Caf) – African Schools Football Championships |12 April 2023
Action during the Anse Boileau v CEG Colby match (Photo: Contributed)
Anse Boileau win Fair Play award
Despite not being ranked among the top teams, the girls’ team from Anse Boileau managed to bring home the Fair Play award from the inaugural Confédération Africaine de Football African Schools Football Championships held at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont, Durban, South Africa from April 5-8.
Anse Boileau, who finished second in the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) qualifiers for the Confederation of African Football (Caf) African Schools Championship in Lilongwe, Malawi in October last year, have made it to the continental showpiece due to the fact that South Africa hosted the finals.
The girls’ competition was contested by seven teams, namely Ecole Omar Ibn Khatab (Morocco), Scan Aid (The Gambia), CEG Colby (Benin), CEG Mfilou (Congo-Brazzaville), Fountain Gate Dodoma Secondary School (Tanzania), Anse Boileau (Seychelles), and Edendale Technical High School (South Africa).
Anse Boileau were drawn in group B alongside CEG Mfilou, CEG Colby, and Ecole Omar Ibn Khatab.
In their first two matches they lost 0-1 to CEG Colby and CEG Mfilou, while in their third match they crumbled in front of Ecole Omar Ibn Khatab, losing the match 0-6.
The young girls from Anse Boileau lost their first two matches after conceding penalties due to defensive mistakes.
It was the Fountain Gate School of Tanzania who finished as champions in the girls’ competition thanks to a 3-0 win over Moroccan side Ecole Omar IBN Khatab, while CS Ben Sekou Sylla from Guinea were the boys’ winners. They defeated home favourites Clapham High School on penalties in the final following a thrilling 1-1 draw played in front of an enthusiastic crowd of more than 6,000 at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
The winning teams each received US $300,000 after the Motsepe Foundation donated US $10-million in the inaugural year of the Pan-African schools competition.
Clapham High School (boys) and Ecole Omar IBN Khatab (girls) have been rewarded with US $200,000 for their silver medal.
Malawi’s Salima Secondary School claimed the bronze medal in the boys’ competition as they returned home with US $150,000 third prize. They defeated CEG Sainte Rita from Benin 3-1 in the third-place play-off and ensured two of the top three teams in the competition would be from the host zone Cosafa.
Scan Aid from The Gambia claimed third place and US $150,000 as they edged Congolese side CSG De Mfilou 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw in the bronze medal match.
The Caf African Schools Football Championship represents a significant step forward in football development on the African continent and has provided over 44,000 learners with the opportunity to not only showcase their talent but learn skills that will make them the leaders of tomorrow, both on and off the field of play.
The universal African ‘language’ is football, which encompasses goals and saves as well as respect, discipline, team work and fair play.
These are all attributes that we should all display in everyday life to ensure we reach our enormous potential as a continent.
It is also worth noting that the safety and protection of the youngsters forms a crucial part of the African Schools Football Championship, and ahead of the tournament, the Confédération Africaine de Football (Caf) hosted a two-day safeguarding workshop with educators from different schools.
The Caf Safeguarding programme is a new initiative that was initially introduced by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) in 2020, with the aim of providing a safe and secure environment for children to freely express their talent in an environment that is free of any form of harassment or abuse.
Speaking at the conclusion of the opening day of the workshop, Caf’s safeguarding manager, Omar Amr said it was critical for Caf to play a leading role and spearhead such an initiative as the official governing body of football on the continent.
Caf president Dr Patrice Motsepe; South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Zizi Kodwa; all Caf vice-presidents; South Africa Football Association (Safa) president Dr Danny Jordaan; and Cosafa president Artur de Almeida e Silva; as well as football leaders from across the African continent, were in attendance in Durban.
Caf president Dr Patrice Motsepe, whose foundation ‒ Motsepe Foundation ‒ donated US $10-million for the competition, said: "We are so proud of all the young boys and girls that have competed here, you are the future. The most successful football nations in the world invest in youth.
"It is part of our commitment to develop football in every country of Africa, and the nations that are here, we are so proud of you. We know the investment we are making in schools football will result in the African game competing with the best in the world and being self-sustaining.
"The money that the schools have won will be used to build football infrastructure for boys and girls so they can develop further.
“We want to thank Cosafa for hosting us and for everyone who has made this tournament possible.”
For this inaugural tournament Caf also invited the Minister for Education, Minister for Youth and Sports and the president of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) to attend.
The SFF was represented by its vice-president Dolor Ernesta and youth and sports principal secretary Ralph Jean-Louis.
The Ministry of Education had no representative on account of a busy schedule and late invitation.
Girls’ awards at the African Schools Football Championships
Winners: Fountain Gate School of Tanzania
Best Player: Wilifrida Gerald (Fountain Gate)
Best Goalkeeper: Allic Neckema (Fountain Gate)
Top Scorer: Wilifrida Gerald (Fountain Gate)
Fair Play: Anse Boileau (Seychelles)
Boys’ awards at the African Schools Football Championships
Winners: CS Ben Sekou Sylla from Guinea
Best Player: Kagiso Maloka (Clapham High School)
Best Goalkeeper: Ibrahima Camara (CS Ben Sekou Sylla)
Top Scorer: Mohamed Sacko (CS Ben Sekou Sylla) Fair Play: Ecole Belawech Boumerde (Algeria)
The Anse Boileau delegation
Goalkeepers: Farisha Moumou, Lee-Handra Leon.
Defenders: Arshini Dick, Azarelle Rose, Shanon Malvina, Kim Marie, Rhea Rose, Elvina Hoareau. Midfielders: Eva Jeremie, Etana Pointe, Maria Tambara, Clara Libanotis.
Strikers: Sherina Radegonde, Farisha Hertel, Keisha Moustache.
Management: Kerin Moses (head of delegation and safeguarding officer), Michael Chang Pen Tive (coach), Peggy Freminot (manager), Gracy Nartey (physiotherapist), Osama Haroun (technical director).
Compiled by Roland Duval
