Sports and Games

Bumper Cosafa tourneys ahead

Bumper Cosafa tourneys ahead
Lovemore Fazili

Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) is set to host six tournaments in a space of five months.

The regional football governing body on Friday announced dates for all its remaining tournaments as it prepares for the busy second half of the year.

“Cosafa is set for a busy second half of 2024 with several tournaments at all age-group levels from under 15 to senior international football on the horizon, many of them continental qualifiers,” the Cosafa statement reads.

Cosafa has already hosted the flagship Cosafa Men’s Cup and Beach Soccer Championships.

The Caf Women’s Champions League/Cosafa Qualifier, to be staged at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre from August 15 to 24, will set the pace for the bumper second half of the year.

After the Caf Women’s Champions League/Cosafa Qualifier, the focus will turn to African Schools Football Championship qualifiers from September 5 to 8 in Namibia.

Caf Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers will take place from September 25 to October 6.

The 2024 Cosafa Women’s Championship will run from October 22 to November 2 in Gqeberha, South Africa.

The tournament returns to Gqeberha after the 2023 edition, which Malawi Women’s National Football Team, the Scorchers, won, was held in Gauteng.

Later in the year, the Caf Under-17 boys and girls Afcon/Cosafa Qualifiers will take place from December 5 to 15 in Mozambique.

Gomezgani Zakazaka

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said Malawi teams would participate in all the competitions.

“Some of the tournaments are regional qualifiers; so, we already confirmed our participation,” Zakazaka said.

Meanwhile, Scorchers hope to defend the Cosafa Women’s Championship which they won after beating Zambia 2-1 last year.

The Scorchers were in camp recently in preparation for the tournament.

They are also expected to regroup during the Fifa window calendar in September.

Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili said with good preparations, the Scorchers can defend the Cosafa Cup.

“I am happy that the players are active as they are participating in the Goshen Women’s Championship. I have also identified several good players ahead of the tournament,” Fazili said.

Malawi under-20 national football team, under the tutelage of Bob Mpinganjira, intends to build from their success after winning the Four Nations Tournament in March this year.