Guinea’s CS Ben Sekou Sylla and Tanzania’s Fountain Gate School were on Saturday crowned champions of the boys’ and girls’ competitions respectively at the inaugural CAF African Schools Football Championship.
The two schools emerged champions at the Continental Final played in Durban, South Africa.
CS Ben Sekou Sylla defeated home favourites Clapham High School on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw before an enthusiastic crowd of more than 6,000 at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Fountain Gate had an easier time in seeing off Moroccan side Ecole Omar IBN Khatab 3-0 to cap a wonderful tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The winning teams each received $300,000 after the Motsepe Foundation donated $10 million in the inaugural year of the Pan-African schools competition.
The finals were the culmination of an outstanding four-day football in which the future stars of the African continent were able to showcase their quality in a celebration of the sport.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, all CAF Vice-Presidents, as well as football leaders from across the African continent, were in attendance.
“We are so proud of all the young boys and girls who have competed here. You are the future,” Motsepe said. “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.”
Kodwa believes the CAF African Schools Football Championship has already raised the profile of schools sports across the continent.
“It has been a great opportunity for South Africa to host this tournament, which has lifted schools sports tremendously,” he said.
“We firmly believe that all schools must play sports as a key part of their curriculum.
“All the teams that participated in Durban are winners. Congratulations to them.”
CS Ben Sekou Sylla won a hard-fought and physical boys’ final as they took the lead through the inspirational Amara Keita.
But they’re South African opponents fought back and equalised via eventual Best Player award winner Kagiso Maloka.
That sent the game to penalty kicks and it was the Guinean team who held their nerve to take the shootout 5-4 and lift the trophy.
“South Africa were not easy to beat,” the Guineans’ coach Aly Badara Cisse said.
“They deserve to be champions just like us, but I am happy that we won it. The standard of the competition was truly high and it goes to show that football is on the rise in Africa.”
They take home the first prize, while Clapham High School are rewarded with $200,000 for their silver medals.
Malawi’s Salima Secondary School claimed the bronze medals as they returned home with the $150,000 third-place 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.
Fountain Gate School were worthy winners of the girls’ competition as they defeated Ecole Omar IBN Khatab from Morocco 3-0 in the final to become the inaugural champions.
They are taking home the $300,000 first prize.
Their star striker Winifrida Gerald grabbed a brace to take her tally to 11 for the tournament and earn the Top Scorer prize in a superb individual display of composed finishing.
Irene Chitanda scored the third for the East Africans.
They confirmed their status as the leading girls’ team in the competition with their incisive attacking play and star at the top of the pitch in Gerald.
Ecole Omar IBN Khatab earned a hefty consolation for their silver medal with $200,000 in prize-money for their school.
“I am very happy to have won this for my country,” Fountain Gate coach Veronica Kiondo said.
“We did our best in our preparations and this has shown in the results. Thank you to CAF for investing in school and girls football.”
Scan Aid from The Gambia claimed third-place as they edged Congolese side CSG De Mfilou 4-3 on penalty kicks following a goalless draw in the bronze medals match.
BOYS’ COMPETITION RESULTS
Semi-finals
CS Ben Sekou Sylla 2 (Kemoko Mara, Amara Keita) Salima Secondary School 0
Clapham High School 1 (Siyabonga Mabona) CEG Sainte Rita 0
Third-place Play-Off
Salima Secondary School 3 (Blessings Sakala, Ishumael Bwanali, Latumbikika Kayira) CEG Sainte Rita 1 (Adriano Ahouissanou)
Final
CS Ben Sekou Sylla 1 (Amara Keita) Clapham High School 1 (Kagiso Maloka) – CS Ben Sekou Sylla won 5-4 on penalty kicks
GIRLS’ COMPETITION RESULTS
Semi-finals
Fountain Gate School 4 (Winifrida Gerald 3, Mary Siyame) CSG De Mfilou 0
Ecole Omar IBN Khatab 1 (Sara Dofry) Scan Aid 0 Third-place Play-Off
CSG De Mfilou 0 Scan Aid 0
(Scan Aid won 4-3 on penalty kicks)
Final
Fountain Gate School 3 (Winifrida Gerald 2, Irene Chitanda) Ecole Omar IBN Khatab 0
