Walvis Bay – Namibia is set to host the 2024 African Schools Football Championship COSAFA Qualifier in Walvis Bay from October 11 to 13, marking the first time the event will be held in the country.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the upcoming qualifiers represent the third regional preliminary competition for the U-15 tournament since its inception in 2022. Previous editions were held in Malawi and Zimbabwe. Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), stated that the tournament plays a critical role in providing young players with their initial experience of competing on a larger stage. The event will feature separate competitions for boys and girls, with teams vying for a place in the continental finals.

In the 2022 qualifiers, six boys teams and five girls teams competed, with the boys divided into two groups and the girls participating in a round-robin format. Last year’s competition saw South Africa claiming both the boys and girls titles in Harare, Zimbabwe, securing their second consecutive championship win.