The second edition of the COPA Coca-Cola Africa Cup is set to take place in Thika, Kenya from December 2-5, 2019. The hosts and the inaugural champions, Kenya, will seek to defend their 2018 title, won at the games held in Nakuru, Kenya. The country claimed both the boys’ and girls’ titles last year.
The tournament format comprises twelve teams and four groups. The participating teams in 2019 include Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Namibia and the hosts, Kenya.
The teams will play a total of 20 matches with the best two teams in each group qualifying for the quarterfinals and knock-out matches, thereafter.
According to Coca-Cola, more than 500,000 teens across Africa aged 13-15 take part in domestic Copa Coca-Cola tournaments each year and is a showcase of skills and talent aimed at developing young footballers into the next generation of soccer stars.
“The COPA Africa Cup is a platform that will go a long way in ensuring the students are the next generation of soccer stars. The array of stars the tournament has provided to the national football teams of the participating teams is a testament of the crucial nature of the games,” said Mr. Evanson Ndungu, Coca-Cola Marketing Manager, The Coca-Cola Company, Kenya.
The COPA Coca Cola tournaments have a rich history on the continent. Since its inception in Zimbabwe in 1989, it has traversed continents and grown to become a global grassroots football initiative for young people.