ARUSHA, Sept. 11 -- WHEN Tanzanias Under-15 girls walked onto the pitch at Kigali Pele Stadium for the final of the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA Qualifiers, they carried more than the expectations of a young team chasing a regional title.

They carried evidence of what can happen when football development begins early.

By the final whistle, Tanzania had defeated Kenya 3-0, retained the girls title and secured a place at the African Schools Football Championship to be held in Morocco in 2027. It was another trophy for Tanzania.

But perhaps more importantly, it was another argument for investing in the place where football careers often begin, at school.

The victory in Kigali should therefore be viewed as more th...