As the football season winds down across the continent, the spotlight shifts to international football in Africa with the annual COSAFA Cup kicking off in South Africa.
The coastal city of Gqeberha is set to host the 12-team tournament from Wednesday, June 26, until Sunday, July 7, 2024.
The tournament draw, conducted a few weeks ago, has created some exciting group matchups. Reigning champions Zambia find themselves in Group B alongside Comoros, Zimbabwe, and invitational side Kenya.
All eyes will be on Zambia as they look to defend their title in a competitive group.
Hosts Bafana Bafana, aiming for their sixth COSAFA Cup crown, headline Group A. They are joined by Botswana, Eswatini, and Mozambique.
South Africa will kick off their campaign on home soil in front of an expectant crowd, starting with a match against Mozambique at 16:00 GMT on Wednesday. The tournament opener features Botswana taking on Eswatini at 13:00 GMT the same day.
Fresh off their historic advancement from the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, the Brave Warriors of Namibia are brimming with confidence.
Namibia is placed in Group C alongside Angola, Lesotho, and Seychelles, in what promises to be a challenging and unpredictable group. The Brave Warriors will begin their campaign on Friday afternoon against Angola.
This year marks the 23rd edition of the COSAFA Cup, a tournament known for showcasing emerging talent. Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile is among the notable players who have been scouted from this competition in previous years.
Zambia holds the record for the most COSAFA Cup titles with seven, followed by Zimbabwe with six, and South Africa with five. As the tournament unfolds, fans and scouts alike will be eager to see which new talents emerge and which team will lift the coveted trophy this year.
