Defending champions Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group A along with Angola, Malawi and Mozambique at the 2021 Cosafa Women’s Championship in Gqeberha on Thursday.
South Africa and Angola were in the same group last year though the latter didn’t manage to qualify for the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Desiree’s Ellis charges eliminated Malawi 6-2 in the semi-final last year when Hilda Magaia scored a hat-trick and the sides will both be looking to get out of the group. Mozambique returns to the regional competition after being absent in 2020.
Group B comprises of last year’s runners up Botswana, who were seeded, and they will have to see off competition from Zimbabwe as well as the two invited sides of Tanzania and South Sudan.
Tanzania are no strangers to the tournament, having competed last year with their U17 women’s side as well.
It will, however, be a home-coming for former Banyana performance analyst Shilene Booysen who is the Bright Starlets’ head coach. Booysen said in iDiski Times edition 17 in April that to be invited to the COSAFA tournament would mean a lot to her side which is finding its feet on the international stage. “If we get invited to COSAFA that will be good because there you have different kinds of opposition and teams so that will be a great exposure for the players” said Booysen.
Meanwhile the region’s pride Zambia who were seeded in Group C have to face Namibia, Eswatini and another invited guest in Uganda. The Copper Queens were humbled by Botswana last year in the semi-final and there will be expectations on them to do well following their maiden appearance at the Tokyo Olympics Games this year.
The tournament will be held between the 15 to the 26 September 2020.
Story by Lethabo Kganyago (@Ngwanamogoto).
