The CAF School Championship had its epilogue this Saturday, April 8. The CS Ben Sekou Sylla of Guinea won in the boys' category and the Fountain Gate School of Tanzania won in the girls' category. Each team left with a substantial prize.
The finals of the CAF African Schools Football Championship took place on Saturday, April 8 in Durban, South Africa. In the boys' competition, CS Ben Sekou Sylla defeated South Africa's Clapham High School on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. In the girls' category, the Tanzanians of Fountain Gate easily dominated the Moroccans of Omar IBN Khatab School (3-0). Each of the teams left with a prize of 300,000 USD (272,000 euros).
"We are very proud of all the young boys and girls who competed here, you are the future. The most successful soccer nations in the world invest in youth. This is part of our commitment to develop soccer in every country in Africa (...) We know that the investment we make in school soccer will allow African soccer to compete with the best in the world and be self-sustaining," said Dr. Patrice Motsepe.
The president of the Confederation of African Football added: "The money that the schools have earned will be used to build soccer facilities for boys and girls so that they can develop further."
Beaten in the final, Omar IBN Khatab School and Clapham High School walk away with USD 200,000 (EUR 181,000). The 3rd place winners in each category each took home 150,000 USD (136,000 euros).
On the boys' side, Kagiso Maloka (Clapham High School) finished as the best player, Ibrahima Camara (CS Ben Sekou Sylla) as the best goalkeeper and Mohamed Sacko (CS Ben Sekou Sylla) as the best scorer with 6 goals. The prize for fair play went to the Belawech Boumerde School (Algeria).
In the women's category, Wilifrida Gerald (Fountain Gate) was elected best player, Allic Neckema (Fountain Gate) best goalkeeper and Wilifrida Gerald (Fountain Gate) finished as the best scorer (11 goals). Anse Boileau (Seychelles) went home with the Fair Play award.
RESULTS BOYS COMPETITION
Semi-finals
CS Ben Sekou Sylla 2-0 Salima Secondary School
Lycée Clapham 1-0 CEG Sainte Rita
Third place Play-Off
Lycée Salima 3-1 CEG Sainte Rita 1 (Adriano Ahouissanou)
Final
CS Ben Sekou Sylla 1-1 (5-4 Pen) Clapham High School
RESULTS OF THE GIRLS COMPETITION
Semi-finals
Fountain Gate School 4-0 CSG De Mfilou
Omar IBN Khatab School 1-0 Scan Aid 0
Third place Play-Off
CSG De Mfilou 0-0 (4-3 Pen) Scan Aid Scan
Fountain Gate School 3-0 Ecole Omar IBN Khatab
