The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has settled on hosts for three major youth competitions and locked in a date for the 2026 CAF Super Cup following its latest Executive Committee meeting. The decisions shape Africa’s international youth calendar and offer Zimbabwe’s age-group sides a clearer picture of possible qualification targets.
Egypt will stage the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament that doubles as Africa’s qualifier for the 2028 Olympic Games football event. Ghana has been awarded the 2027 U-20 AFCON, while Morocco will host the 2027 U-17 AFCON. Each tournament now carries additional weight for southern African hopefuls, including Zimbabwe’s under-23, under-20 and under-17 teams.
The 2026 CAF Super Cup has been scheduled for 8 November 2026 at a venue in Pretoria, South Africa, with kick-off set for 15:00 local time. The match pits the winners of CAF’s premier club competitions against each other, giving the region another continental showpiece after the recent hosting of major events.
CAF said talks about the proposed African Nations League are still ongoing, with no format or hosts finalised. The Executive Committee also reaffirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the global body’s leadership during wider discussions on football governance and commercial growth.
For Zimbabwe, the confirmed youth hosts may influence how the country’s junior national teams approach upcoming qualifiers. While no Zimbabwean side has yet been drawn into any qualifying group, the regional spread of hosts in North and West Africa could affect travel plans and preparation for age-group squads aiming to reach these finals.
