Editors PickNational Sports

Cosafa draw this Thursday

The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup draw takes place this Thursday night in South Africa with the Flames expected to be exempted from first-round matches.

The draw to be held in Johannesburg will be broadcast live on SuperSport 4 from 6pm, Cosafa announced yesterday about the regional football showpiece scheduled for South Africa’s North West province from May 17 to 31 2015.

Flames striker Esau Kanyenda in  a previous Cosafa tournament
Flames striker Esau Kanyenda in a previous Cosafa tournament

Zambia won the cup when last held in 2013.

The Flames, rated fifth out of 14 southern Africa teams, will join the Cosafa race from knock-out quarter-final phase. First-round games will involve the region’s six lowest teams by Fifa rankings of this month.

Cosafa president Seketu Patel said the timing of the tournament gives many competing nations a chance to field foreign-based players as major leagues will have ended by May.

“The regional senior championship is a crucial component for the development of football in southern Africa and we are delighted to be staging the event in South Africa this year and using the world-class facilities of the North West province,” Patel said yesterday.

Twelve of the 14 Cosafa teams have confirmed participation whereas the Comoros have opted not to compete. Angola will decide this week.

Details about the sponsor and prize money are yet to be unveiled. However, the format is the same as that of 2013 edition held in Zambia where Malawi crashed out without a win.

Lower eight teams will compete in the first-round, while being split into two pools with overall winner of each category joining six higher ranked sides in last eight. Teams exiting the quarter-finals will play in plate competition.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed the draw, which FAM president Walter Nyamilandu is expected to attend in his capacity as Cosafa executive committee member.

“We are yet to sit down with the coaches to hear their plans for Cosafa Cup. The aim is to build a strong squad of home-based players ahead of Afcon and Chan qualifiers this June,” said Nyirenda.

The Flames qualified for the final in 2002 and 2003. They lost to Bafana Bafana and Warriors of Zimbabwe respectively. The competition has helped expose players such as Robert Ng’ambi, Peter Mponda and Esau Kanyenda. Kanyenda won the 2002 Player of the Series Award.

 

Related Articles

Back to top button
WordPress › Error

There has been a critical error on this website.

Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.