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| Lesotho will be one of 14 nations gunning for COSAFA Cup glory |
All 14 member nations of COSAFA will
compete at the 2018 COSAFA Cup in South Africa’s Limpopo province from May 27
to June 9. It will be the first time all members of COSAFA take part in the
regional showpiece.
Zimbabwe will return as defending
champions and will again be among the favourites to lift the trophy.
Here is a quick guide to the teams that will take part in this year’s
tournament.
Lesotho
All-time record:
P W D L GF GA
40 9 12 19 38 54
Lesotho made the semi-finals last year
where they were ousted in a thrilling 4-3 defeat to eventual champions
Zimbabwe. Likuena were also runners-up to Zimbabwe in the 2000 edition of the
southern African championship and have always been a difficult opponent.
Angola
P W D L GF GA
40 16 13 11 39 34
Angola are three-time winners of the
COSAFA Cup but have not tasted success since 2004. In recent years they have
opted to bring very young squads to the tournament as they use it to blood
fresh talent for the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualifiers. They
have qualified for the World Cup once before, in 2006, with their victory in
the 2004 COSAFA Cup going some way to shaping that team.
Botswana
P W D L GF GA
35 6 13 16 24 40
Botswana has been finalists as recently
as 2016, where they lost 3-2 to South Africa’s Olympics-bound squad, but
disappointed last year when they were eliminated by the same opposition in the
Plate semi-finals. They also made the semi-finals in 2007, losing once again to
the South Africans. The side is coached by veteran tactician David Bright.
Comoros Islands
P W D L GF GA
6 1 1 5 2 8
Comoros Islands return for their first
COSAFA Cup since 2009 and for what will be only their third tournament over
all. Their lone previous victory came against the Seychelles nine years ago,
while they failed to score in any of their five other matches. The side is
vastly improved since then though, as they have shown in recent continental
qualifiers.
Madagascar
P W D L GF GA
28 12 6 10 34 30
Madagascar were ousted in the first
round in 2017 despite taking seven points from their nine available, undone on
goal-difference by eventual winners Zimbabwe. Their recent form has been
excellent, with just two defeats in their last 12 COSAFA Cup matches, proving
they will be no pushovers this year.
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| The 2018 COSAFA Cup will get underway on May 27... |
Malawi
P W D L GF GA
43 12 12 19 40 54
Malawi have not perhaps lived up to
their rich potential in recent times and are scoreless in their last four
COSAFA Cup matches. They picked up just two points in 2017 and will hope for
much better this time round under Belgian coach Ronny Van Geneugden. Malawi
have been runners-up in two COSAFA Cup competitions, reaching the final for the
first time in 2002 and then making the decider again the following year.
Mauritius
P W D L GF GA
29 6 5 18 21 46
Mauritius have perhaps not performed how
they might have hoped in recent tournaments, and last year bowed out in the
first round with two points. They caused arguably the biggest upset in COSAFA
Cup history in 2004 when they beat South Africa, who had a full-strength team
headed to the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia, in the first round in
Curepipe. But Club M are still seeking to get past the quarterfinal stage of
the Southern African championship.
Mozambique
P W D L GF GA
39 13 8 18 40 55
Mozambique suffered to surprise, heavy defeats last year to Zimbabwe (0-4) and
Madagascar (1-4) and will be hoping for much better this time round. They are
led by flamboyant coach Abel Xavier, in his third COSAFA Cup tournament.
Mozambique were semi-finalists in the 2004 and 2008 COSAFA Cup tournaments, and
then went one better in 2015 when they lost 2-0 in the final to Namibia.
Nambia
P W D L GF GA
47 17 16 14 62 50
Namibia were COSAFA Cup winners in 2015,
won the Plate competition in 2016 and reached the final of the Plate again last
year before losing to South Africa. Their trilling run to the major trophy
three years ago was a huge personal triumph for coach Ricardo Mannetti, who
remains in charge. They also made the final in 1999, but narrowly lost to
Angola in extra-time in the second leg in Windhoek.
Seychelles
P W D L GF GA
22 1 3 18 14 51
Seychelles have just a single victory in
22 COSAFA Cup games, but that was a handsome 7-0 success over Mauritius in 2008
that remains the largest ever winning margin in the history of the tournament.
Since they have battled, managing to score in only two of their previous 12
games and conceding 32 goals in that time.
South Africa
P W D L GF GA
41 22 12 7 54 24
Four-time winners South Africa last
tasted COSAFA Cup success in 2016, but have disappointed in recent tournaments,
going out at the quarterfinal stage in two of the last three. South Africa are
one of only two COSAFA member countries to have won the African Nations Cup
title, doing so on home soil at their first attempt in 1996. Zambia joined them
with their 2012 success.
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| The final will be on June 9... |
Swaziland
P W D L GF GA
39 14 10 15 38 47
Swaziland had a thrilling run in the
2016 COSAFA Cup when they claimed the bronze medal and have always been a
difficult opponent at the tournament. They have reached the semi-finals of the
COSAFA Cup on four occasions, proving their potential for upset results, but
have yet to make that major leap into a final.
Zambia
P W D L GF GA
51 27 17 8 76 35
Zambia are four-time winners of the
COSAFA Cup but have been to nine finals in all, including last year when they
were beaten 3-1 by Zimbabwe. Their previous title was in 2013 on home soil and
they remain a real power of the region. Zambia won both first two editions of
the COSAFA Cup in 1997 and 1998, but it took until 2006 for them to claim their
third regional title.
Zimbabwe
P W D L GF GA
54 36 11 7 98 39
Zimbabwe are the most successful nation
in the history of the COSAFA Cup, winning their fifth title in 2017. They have
played the most matches, managed the most wins and scored the most goals to
cement their place on the top of the pile. They have suffered disappointment
too though with three runner-up finishes.
