Defending champions Zambia will begin their Group C campaign at the CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifiers against rivals South Africa on Thursday afternoon in Harare.
Chasing a Historic Hat-Trick
Zambia head into the competition as the most successful side in COSAFA U17 history, with four titles to their name. They have also featured in the last five finals, winning three of them, including the last two. This year, they are chasing a unique hat-trick, as no team has ever won the tournament three times in a row.
Zambia’s Recent Success
The Junior Chipolopolo have shown consistency at this level:
2019 – Winners (beat Mozambique 2-0)
2020 – Runners-up
2021 – Runners-up
2022 – Winners (beat South Africa 1-0)
2024 – Winners (beat Angola 2-1)
Zambia lifted their first COSAFA U17 crown in 2017 in Mauritius and have dominated the competition since then, with their two latest victories secured on Malawian soil.
Continental Ambitions
Beyond regional success, Zambia has qualified for the CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations three times. After early group-stage exits in 2015 and 2023, they reached the quarterfinals in 2025, which earned them a ticket to their first-ever FIFA U17 World Cup to be hosted in Qatar later this year.
This makes the current squad one of the most promising in Zambia’s youth football history, with both regional pride and global ambitions driving their campaign.
