COSAFA Cup: who can dethrone Zambia?

For the sixth consecutive edition, the COSAFA Cup, which is reserved for national teams from southern Africa, will be played in South Africa. And as in 2022, it will be staged in Durban and the surrounding area. Three stadiums have been selected to host the twelve teams who have entered: the King Zwelithini Stadium (10,000 seats), which will stage the final among other matches, the Chtasworth Stadium (22,000 seats) and the Princess Magogo Stadium, in KwaMashu (12,000 seats), a Durban township.

The choice of South Africa is anything but a coincidence: the richest and most developed country on the continent has all the infrastructure (sports, hotels, health, transport and communications) needed to stage a competition, which is not the case for the other countries whose federations are affiliated to COSAFA.

Read more: COSAFA Cup, the groups confirmed

Without Zimbabwe or Madagascar

This year, twelve teams have confirmed their participation in the 22nd edition of the tournament. South Africa, Eswatini, Namibia and Botswana (Group A), Zambia, Seychelles, Malawi and the Comoros (Group B), Mozambique, Angola, Lesotho and Mauritius (Group C). The top three in each group, along with the best second-placed side, will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for 14 July, with the final and the 3rd-place play-off set for the 16th. Zimbabwe, who are suspended by FIFA, and Madagascar, who could have used the opportunity to prepare for the Indian Ocean Island Games (JIOI) that the country is due to host (from 23 August to 3 September), will not take part.

No other invited teams

And unlike in previous years, no other team from outside COSAFA has been invited, as was the case for Tanzania (2015, 2017), DR Congo (2016), Uganda (2019) and Senegal (2021 and 2022). The competition involves almost exclusively home-based sides or players based in Africa, since the COSAFA Cup does not fall within FIFA international windows. It will allow Seychelles and Mauritius to prepare for the JIOI and, more generally, to try out players ahead of qualifying for the 2024 African Nations Championship. Zambia, the holders, will be among the favourites, along with South Africa and Angola, while Mozambique and Namibia will be among the outsiders.

The schedule

• Group A

5 July

Eswatini - Botswana

South Africa - Namibia

8 July

South Africa - Botswana

Namibia - Eswatini

11 July

South Africa - Eswatini

Botswana - Namibia

• Group B

6 July

Seychelles - Comoros

Zambia - Malawi

9 July

Zambia - Comoros

Malawi - Seychelles

11 July

Malawi - Comoros

Zambia - Seychelles

• Group C

7 July

Mauritius - Lesotho

Angola - Mozambique

10 July

Angola - Mauritius

Mozambique - Lesotho

12 July

Mozambique - Mauritius

Angola - Lesotho

Semi-finals on 14 July, final and third-place play-off on 16 July

Alexis BILLEBAULT