Cosafa basks in Afcon glory
Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) has said the bloc’s members have left a mark at the ongoing 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast.
Southern African sides Angola, Namibia and South Africa made it to the round of 16 and while Zambia while Mozambique exited in the pool phase.
South Africa stunned 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The last-16 clash between Angola and Namibia ensured that another Cosafa team be in the quarter-finals.
Angola thrashed Namibia 3-0 to adance to the quarter-finals and narrowly lost 1-0 to Nigeria while South Africa were dating Cape Verde at press time yesterday
Cosafa executive director Sue Destombes said the Cosafa representatives have proved that the region is a force to reckon with.
“Cosafa is delighted with the results our five representatives at the Africa Cup of Nations and congratulate all of them on a strong showing for the region in the Ivory Coast.
“Namibia made history by reaching the last-16 for the first time and this is testament to the work of coach Collin Benjamin. We have watched with interest their progress through several Cosafa Cup competitions.
“Angola made it to the knockout rounds for the first time since 2010 while South Africa came through a difficult group and showed a typical fighting spirit.”
Destombes said even Zambia and Mozambique who were eliminated in the groups stages went out with heads held high.
“Mozambique took two points in an incredibly tough group that also contained Egypt, Ghana and an in-form Cape Verde. Zambia also managed two points, only coming unstuck against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco,” she said.
Cosafa competitions committee chairperson Timothy Shongwe said the performances of the Cosafa teams is testament to the success of the organisation in developing football across all age groups in the Southern African region, which is now bearing fruit at senior international level.
“We are pleased that the hard work Cosafa has put into developing football in the region from the Under-17 age-group up is paying dividends,” Shongwe said.
“Many of the players who are now starring for their senior national teams started in our junior competitions, which was their first exposure to international football.
“We believe this is just the beginning and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to grow the game in the region, which will have the effect of boosting our national teams in continental and global competition.”
Football analyst Charles Nyirenda said Cosafa teams have made tremendous improvements.
“South Africa, the only side with the most number of local players at Afcon this year and a good eight of those being Mamelodi Sundowns warriors stunned hot favourites Morocco 2-0 to qualify to the quarter-finals gracefully.
“This is a big statement on the state of football in Cosafa region. We are no longer underdogs,” he said.
