The COSAFA Show

We have a varied COSAFA Show for you this week, taking in a top striker, a women’s football coach on the rise and the aftermath of the of the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 | COSAFA Qualifiers that were won by Gaborone United Ladies FC.Namibia’s hot-shot striker Peter Shalulile recently reached a major milestone when he became the most prolific goal-scorer in the 29-year history of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.We hear from him on that record, getting Namibia to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and what the future might old.Seychelles women’s coach Chris Yip-Au recently took part in the FIFA Elite Performance: Coaches’ Mentorship Program. She had experienced Australian tactician Vicki Linton as her mentor and tells us about that experience.Gaborone United were crowned champions of the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 | COSAFA Qualifiers this past weekend when they defeated ZESCO Ndola Girls in a thrilling penalty shoot-out in the final in Johannesburg.Their victory sees them qualify for the continental finals and also makes up for defeat on penalties in the decider last year.Their coach Khalid Niyonzima has masterminded their success and spoke after the final. Zesco Ndola Girls had hoped to become the second Zambian winners of the regional title after Green Buffaloes in 2022 but fell just short. Their coach William Zulu tells us where it all went wrong.

In this latest episode of The COSAFA Show, we look ahead to the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco this week, and glance back at the Region 5 Games that were played in Windhoek.Two of our COSAFA sides have advanced to the knockout rounds of the WAFCON competition, including defending champions South Africa, who face Senegal on Saturday. But before that, Zambia are in action against nine-time winners Nigeria on Friday in what will truly be a test of their championship credentials.We will hear from both of their coaches ahead of the crunch knockout games.Botswana narrowly missed out on a place in the quarterfinals despite a 2-1 win over Tunisia in their final Group B game but leave with their heads held high.We also check in with the victorious South Africa men’s coach Vela Khumalo after they lifted the Region 5 Games crown, which served as the COSAFA championship in that age-group this year. Although an Under-20 competition, South Africa triumphed with an Under-17 selection as they prepare for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year, making their achievement all the more impressive.

In this latest episode of The COSAFA Show, where we chat to Angola coach Pedro Goncalves as he prepares to defend the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup title his side won in 2024 as they ended a 20-year wait for the trophy.It is an incredibly busy six months for Palancas Negras as they compete in Mangaung from June 4-15, and also take part in the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN finals in August, and the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco at the end of the year. Goncalves is currently the longest serving national team coach in African football having been in his post since 2019, and has worked in the country for the past decade.He gives us insight into his team and the current state of Angolan football.

In the latest episode of The COSAFA Show we chat to Leah Sweetness Masango, leader of COSAFA’s vital Technical Study Group at the organisation’s tournaments. COSAFA held a workshop for aspiring Technical Study Group members from across the Southern African region last week, and she fills us in on the details around that.There were coaches, former players, technical directors and other stakeholders all present as a range of subjects were discussed.Masango also tells us about her exciting future, which includes being selected as one of just two coaches from the African continent for a prestigious FIFA programme.She has already been to Brazil and will be travelling to various other countries around the world as she builds her knowledge to bring back to the Southern African region.

In our latest episode of the COSAFA Show, which is actually a two-parter, we get the extensive views of newly re-elected CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, who hails from the COSAFA region. Dr Motsepe will enter a second term at the helm of the game on the continent having been re-elected unopposed following successful first term in which great strides were made women’s and youth football, modernizing refereeing on the continent and several other spheres.CAF has improved its commercial outlook which has led to increased prizemoney in its competitions across the board. In Part 1 of this discussion with journalists, Dr Motsepe talks about the progress made in his first term, improving women’s football and making the African globally competitive. We will have Part 2 next week.

A record seven COSAFA nations have qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 and all learned their fate with the draw that was held in Rabat this week.The 24-team tournament will be staged from 21 December, 2025 to 18 January 2026 and will be a celebration of elite African football in six host cities and nine stadia.Three COSAFA sides - South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe have been drawn in the same pool at the finals, while Zambia and Comoros have also been paired together, alma with hosts Morocco and Mali. Botswana return for a second ever finals following their first in 2012, while Mozambique are also back at the finals.There is no doubt the COSAFA Cup to be staged in mid-year will have extra spice this season as coaches look at their various options. We speak to coaches from all seven teams to get their reactions to the draw.

In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show as we discuss all things women’s football in the COSAFA region and look ahead to the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship final that will be played in Gqeberha on Saturday.Zambia will take on seven-time winners South Africa in the decider that promises to be a close-fought affair between two sides who have shown their tactical acumen in the tournament so far.But first we hear from Dr Brenda Kunda, who is a COSAFA Executive Committee member and an expert on women’s football in the Southern African region and the continent as a whole.She gives her insight into what is happening in the women’s game, which is growing at pace, not least thanks to four tournaments that will be hosted by COSAFA this year – the COSAFA Women’s Championship, CAF Women’s Champions League qualifier, and Women’s U20 and U17 tournaments. We also hear from Zambia coach Florence Mwila following her side’s 2-0 victory over defending champions Malawi in the COSAFA Women’s Championship as she looks ahead to the final. And we also get the views of South Africa coach Maude Khumalo to the penalty shootout victory over Mozambique in the semi-finals.