Zambia Aim for Historic Hat-Trick of COSAFA Under-17 Titles
- Chief Editor
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
03.09.2025 I Football DNA ⚽️
The TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 | COSAFA Qualifiers will take place in Harare, Zimbabwe from September 11–20, with 12 teams vying for a place at next year’s continental finals.
Among the favorites are Zambia, record four-time winners of the tournament and defending champions. The Junior Chipolopolo have been a dominant force in recent years, reaching each of the last five finals and lifting the trophy three times—including the last two editions.
Zambia’s Last Five COSAFA U17 Tournament Finishes
2019 – Winners
2020 – Runners-up
2021 – Runners-up
2022 – Winners
2024 – Winners
Their recent triumphs came in Malawi, where they edged Angola 2-1 in 2024 and defeated South Africa 1-0 in 2022, cementing their status as the region’s most successful side with four titles, one more than South Africa.
Zambia also claimed victory in 2017 (Mauritius) and 2019 (Mozambique), ending a long wait for their first title before establishing themselves as the team to beat in this age group.
Now, they are chasing a unique hat-trick—no side has ever won the COSAFA U17 crown three times in a row.
Continental and Global Impact
The Junior Chipolopolo have featured in the continental finals three times, exiting in the group stage in 2015 and 2023 before reaching the quarterfinals in 2025. That performance secured their historic qualification for the 2025 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, their first-ever appearance on the global stage.
With their pedigree, consistency, and hunger for history, Zambia enter the 2026 COSAFA qualifiers not just as defending champions, but as favorites determined to write another golden chapter.
Watching Zambia chase a historic third consecutive COSAFA U17 title really brings back memories of following youth tournaments and seeing how consistent programs shape future stars. Their dominance over the past decade, with wins in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024, shows how structured development and strong coaching pay off—not just regionally but in preparing players for continental and global stages like the FIFA U17 World Cup. While reading about their journey, I also explored the official website where you can find an in-depth overview of 1Win Ghana, a platform that details online games, betting options, deposit methods, and casino features. It’s interesting how both structured sports programs and well-organized online platforms emphasize strategy, consistency, and understanding rules—whether for scoring on…