The road to the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations is officially underway, with the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) confirming the group stage draw for its zonal qualifiers set for September 2025 in Zimbabwe. The draw has placed defending champions Zambia in a potentially explosive Group B alongside traditional rivals South Africa, Malawi, and Madagascar.
With 12 nations vying for just three coveted tickets to the 2026 continental showpiece, the stakes could not be higher.
Group A: Hosts Zimbabwe Eye Home Advantage
The hosts Zimbabwe will welcome the region’s best young talent from September 11 to 20, 2025, and they headline Group A, where they’ll be joined by Mozambique, Comoros, and Eswatini. Backed by home support, the Young Warriors will look to use familiar surroundings to their advantage in what is expected to be a tightly contested group.
Group B: Defending Champs Zambia Face Familiar Foes
Group B promises fireworks as Zambia, the defending COSAFA U-17 champions, square off against South Africa, Malawi, and Madagascar. Zambia will be banking on their rich youth development pedigree and recent dominance in the region to see them through.
The clash with South Africa could prove decisive, with both nations boasting well-organised academies and history at this level. Zambia’s young guns will also be wary of Malawi’s recent resurgence and Madagascar’s unpredictability.
Group C: Balanced Group Offers Opportunity
Meanwhile, Group C features a more evenly matched quartet with Angola, Botswana, Mauritius, and Lesotho. Angola, traditionally strong in youth competitions, will enter the group as favourites, but the wide-open nature of this pool could spring surprises.
Qualification Format
Only the winners of each group and the best-placed runner-up across all three groups will proceed to the semi-finals. The top three teams from the knockout phase will secure qualification for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
This format leaves little room for error, and with a tight fixture schedule, squad depth and tactical discipline will be vital for any team with continental ambitions.
Zambia’s Quest to Retain COSAFA Dominance
For Zambia, the mission is clear — retain their regional crown and book yet another ticket to the AFCON U-17 finals. Head coach Ian Bakala is expected to assemble a fresh crop of talent from across the country’s youth structures, building on the team’s triumph in the last edition of the tournament.
With the nation continuing to invest in youth football, this generation will be looking to follow in the footsteps of former stars like Patson Daka, Edward Chilufya, and Fashion Sakala, all of whom rose through the junior national ranks.
Conclusion
The 2026 COSAFA U-17 Qualifiers are set to deliver drama, excitement, and a showcase of the region’s next big stars. As Zambia aims to defend their title, their clash with South Africa could very well shape the destiny of Group B. With only three tickets available to the continental finals, every match will be a battle.
