- Girls: St Noa Girls 2-0 Morocco
- Boys: St Mary’s Kitende (5)0–0(6) Senegal
As the sun sets on the vibrant city of Accra this Saturday, the curtains will draw on the CAF Africa Schools Football Championship but not before Uganda’s flag flutters proudly in both the final and the third-place playoff.
St Noa Girls Zzana have written their names into the tournament’s history books with a composed and commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco in the semi-finals, booking a place in the final for the very first time.
Their dream run in Ghana has been nothing short of inspiring, blending clinical attack with a defense that has proven impenetrable through four straight matches.
In a semi-final clash filled with tension, it was the calm leadership of captain Giovanna Aketowanga that gave St Noa the breakthrough they needed. Her poised finish opened the scoring, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Soon after, Lydia Namaseruka added a second, capping off a well-executed team move that left the Moroccan defense scrambling.
The two goals brought St Noa’s tournament tally to nine but perhaps even more impressive is their clean defensive sheet, no goals conceded in four games.
Their unity, discipline and tactical awareness have made them the team to beat and now all eyes turn to their final clash against the hosts, Ghana on Saturday.
While the girls celebrated a monumental achievement, it was heartbreak for St Mary’s Kitende (SMASK) in the boys’ category.
Facing a determined Senegal side, the boys fought toe to toe through regular time in a tense match that ended in a goalless draw.
But football can be cruel, Senegal held their nerve better in the post-match shootout, edging SMASK 6-5 on penalties.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for a team that had shown grit and promise throughout the tournament Yet, all is not lost.
SMASK will have a final chance to redeem themselves and secure a podium finish as they face off against hosts Ghana in the third-place playoff, also scheduled for Saturday.
Meanwhile, defending champions Tanzania will meet Senegal in a much-anticipated boys’ final.
The tournament awards $300,000 to the winners, $200,000 to runners-up and $150,000 to third place, earmarked for supporting educational and development projects in their respective schools.
