Draws concluded in Maputo for Under-20 and Under-17 competitions
Hosts Mozambique have been placed alongside Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025 | COSAFA Qualifier following the draw in Maputo on Thursday.
The tournament will be staged in Maputo from September 26-October 5, with the two finalists advancing to the continental finals next year.
The draws for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025 | COSAFA Qualifier and the 2024 COSAFA Under-17 Women’s Championship, which will also both be in Maputo from December 5-14, were held at the same time.
Mozambique, who were winners of the U20 competition in 2020 and finalists in 2022, will hope homeground advantage provides a boost with only the top team in each pool and the best second-placed side across the three groups advancing.
Group B contains holders and record 12-time winners Zambia, Angola, Namibia and Madagascar in another tough pool to call.
South Africa, who have lifted the trophy on eight previous occasions, headline Group C along with Malawi, Comoros and Lesotho.
In the draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025 | COSAFA Qualifier, there will be a Lusophone derby after hosts Mozambique were draw with Angola in Group A, while they also face Malawi and Lesotho.
Group B contains holders Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini, while Group C has South Africa, Botswana, Comoros and Mauritius.
Once again, only the top team in each pool advances to the semifinals along with the best-placed runner-up.
The draw was also concluded for the 2024 COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship which will be played concurrently in Maputo with the men’s Under-17 competition from December 5-14.
Hosts Mozambique are in Group A along with Comoros, Eswatini and Lesotho, while Group B has holders South Africa, Malawi, Namibia and Madagascar.
Group C contains Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mauritius, and once again only the top team in each pool and the best placed runners-up advance to the last-4.
“This moment is a symbol of the trust placed in us,” Mozambican Football Federation President Feizal Sidat said. “By selecting Mozambique as host of these prestigious tournaments, COSAFA has shown deep confidence in our country, our federation, our government and our organising capabilities.
“For this season I must thank CSOAFA for this opportunity they have given our country. This goes beyond sport, it is a message of unity, cooperation and development for our youth, which are fundamental for building our football into the future.
“By hosting these tournaments, we show our commitment to growing football in our region. We are fully open to future opportunities to host more events and eager to support COSAFA in any way necessary.”
Timothy Shongwe, who heads up the COSAFA Competitions Committee, expressed the organisation’s thanks to Mozambique for playing host to three tournaments.
“We are very grateful for your hosting of our events,” Shongwe said. “We are currently working very well with the Mozambican Football Federation in terms of putting together the U20 and two U17 competitions.
“I would like to pay tribute to the Mozambican Football Federation for having afforded us this opportunity. These competitions are very important to our youth, we must expose them to international football before the senior team level to make their development path smoother.”
TOTALENERGIES CAF UNDER-20 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2025 | COSAFA QUALIFIER DRAW
GROUP A
Mozambique
Eswatini
Zimbabwe
Botswana
GROUP B
Zambia
Angola
Namibia
Madagascar
GROUP C
South Africa
Malawi
Comoros
Lesotho
TOTALENERGIES CAF UNDER-17 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2025 | COSAFA QUALIFIER DRAW
GROUP A
Mozambique
Malawi
Lesotho
Angola
GROUP B
Zambia
Namibia
Zimbabwe
Eswatini
GROUP C
South Africa
Botswana
Comoros
Mauritius
2024 COSAFA WOMEN’S UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP
GROUP A
Mozambique
Comoros
Eswatini
Lesotho
GROUP B
South Africa
Malawi
Namibia
Madagascar
GROUP C
Zambia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Mauritius