Cosafa tourneys in limbo

A cloud of uncertainty surrounds some Cosafa tournaments pencilled in the 2023 calendar, including the Cosafa Under-20 Championship which is also a CAF Under-20 Afcon Qualifier scheduled for this month.

Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) in January lined up nine tournaments in its 2023 calendar.

The regional football governing body’s competitions manager Joshua Knipp in January announced they would hold nine competitions in 2023.

The year was supposed to start with the Under-20 Women’s Championship in March and April, but it was rescheduled to a later date.

Instead, the year kicked off with the flagship Cosafa Cup which was also shifted from May to July in Durban, South Africa.

Cosafa also planned to hold the Beach Soccer tournament in July or November; however, they are yet to announce the dates.

So far, Cosafa has staged the Cosafa Women’s Champions League as well as the Cosafa Women’s Championship which the Scorchers won after defeating defending champions Zambia 2-1 in the final.

Apart from the Cosafa boys’ Under-20 and Beach Soccer tournaments, Cosafa is also yet to stage the Under-17 boys and girls tournaments as well as the African Schools Championship which Malawi hosted last year.

FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said they are waiting for communication from Cosafa.

“As of now, Cosafa has not communicated any dates or where the competitions will be held. So, we will just wait for them on the way forward. Once they communicate we will start preparations,” he said.

Cosafa media manager Lynda Greeff in short response yesterday said they are yet to decide when the competitions will take place.

She, however, said the Under-20 tournament would likely be held in December.

“It has not been settled yet. Probably in December,” she said.

Last year, Malawi failed to qualify for the knockout stage after finishing as runners up to South Africa with six points in Group  C in e-Swatini.

They beat South Africa 2-0, Namibia 5- 2, but lost to Comoros 2-0 to tie at six points apiece with the group winners.

Malawi did not participate in Women’s Champions League and Beach Soccer Championship due to lack of funds.