News Net GH
In April 2025, I found myself lucky to be among 30 young journalists selected to be part of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Young Reporters Workshop as part of the 2025 African Schools Football Championship.
Like any other young journalist, the African game was what shaped many of us growing up to develop a passion for football and for sports as a whole. It was a good opportunity because, in the end, Ghana had won the bid to host the competition.
The Young Reporters Workshop–a channel to groom tomorrow’s voices to tell the African game–was an initiative introduced by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, with Canal+ coming on board as partners for this year’s programme.
For me, the programme was an opportunity to grow in a career I seek to pursue as well as tell the stories of the next generation of African stars, as far as boys’ and girls’ football are concerned.
From April 21 to 26, the University of Ghana’s Legon Sports Stadium became a hub of youthful energy and talent. The atmosphere was electric as U-15 teams from across the continent competed with fervour, showcasing the future stars of African football. The cheers of the crowd, the rhythm of the drums, and the sheer determination of the young athletes created an unforgettable backdrop for storytelling.
Taking notes from facilitators like Ibrahim Sannie Daara and Thabang Mazibuko, who are both with the CAF Communication Team, was already an inspiration, while the General Manager of Sports at Media General, Michael Oti Adjei, was also a guest facilitator during the workshop.
The latter days of the workshop saw two journalists from Canal+ come in to better our knowledge in the field we seek to be in for foreseeable future; Romain Hussonnois and Anta Guindo were the two from the French media outlet.
Some of the activities we went through included field reporting, media zone interviews, as well as pre-match and post-match interviews with team officials.
This immersive environment honed my skills and reinforced my commitment to telling authentic African sports stories.
The CAF Young Reporters Workshop exemplifies the transformative potential of youth opportunities in African sport and journalism. It empowers young voices to tell stories that matter, fostering a new generation of storytellers committed to highlighting the continent’s rich sporting heritage. This journey has invigorated my resolve to continue telling impactful stories that celebrate and elevate African sports.
A highlight of the week was meeting CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe. His vision for African football—to make it globally competitive and self-sustaining—resonated deeply with me. His encouragement to us young reporters underscored the importance of our role in shaping the narrative of African sports.
The games—the main action
As a Ghanaian, there is always the tendency to be biased towards my country, but boy, there are too many good talents not to talk about.
The Ugandan duo of Nabukeera and Kawizo were standout performers in the early parts of the competition, with their famous win over defending champions South Africa in the girls’ category coming as a big shock.
Elsewhere in the boys division, Tanzania, who had a slow start to the competition, fought their way into defending the title they had won the year before, making them the first country to secure back-to-back wins as they beat Senegal in the final.
Covering the tournament allowed me to witness remarkable moments, such as Ghana’s U-15 Girls team clinching their first continental title and Tanzania’s Boys team defending their championship in a tense penalty shootout. These events were not just victories on the field but also symbols of hope and progress for youth football in Africa.
The Emotions
As Shannon L. Alder will say, “feelings are something you have, not something you are.”
There were moments from covering the tournament that left me in a mood of contentment. From Jennifer Awuku’s glowing tribute to her parents, captain Hajara Adams’ emotional post-match comments, as well as head coach Joyce Boatey-Agyei’s fulfilment, the mixed zone during Ghana’s games gave me all.
My highlights were getting the emotions out of Jennifer Awuku and Joyce Boatey-Agyei.
I loved these moments. #ASFC25 pic.twitter.com/b7s8tNQCDi
— Lawrence Degraft Baidoo (@kweku_lawrence) April 28, 2025
The African Schools Football Championship, which was launched a mere three years ago under the vision of Dr. Motsepe, has already touched the lives of more than 1.9 million young people across 46 nations, according to CAF. In both scale and ambition, it stands today as the continent’s most influential youth sports program.
Yet, its true legacy won’t be measured in medals or the results of the game, nor will the trophies also come into consideration. It will echo in the classrooms that gain new resources, in teachers empowered with better training, in the rising self-belief of young students, and in aspirations that are encouraged rather than postponed.
As the sun dipped below the horizon in Accra and the champions circled the field to the roar of the crowd, one message was unmistakable: Africa’s youth are poised for greatness. And through this championship—anchored in education and inspired by sport—they’re not only being recognised. They’re being equipped for the future.
For the experience, this was one of those moments that make you love what you do, and I move on from here looking forward to the next edition of the CAF African Schools Football Championship and championing the stories of these young ones.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
