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WOMEN’S football administrator, Sibekiwe Ndlovu says Zimbabwe were thrown into a fair draw in Group D of the 2024 Hollywoods Cosafa Women’s Championships to be held in Gqeberha, South Africa, from October 22 to November 2. Zimbabwe were drawn in the same group as Mozambique and Lesotho.
“It’s a seemingly fair draw. I am so happy that we are back in the game and we also have a full-time experienced coach. We have a good crop of players and if the girls start training together as soon as possible, I believe we can cruise through even though Mozambique is not a team to take for granted.
“We would want to do our best in this tournament and possibly go all the way to the final. In Group B, I think Malawi will progress though they face a tough Botswana side,” said Ndlovu.
Malawi are the defending champions while South Africa have won it over half a dozen times and start as favourites as always. The might of Zambians’ Shepolopolo cannot be underestimated in what should be an exciting football extravaganza exhibiting the best talent in the region.
Under new head coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, Zimbabwe aims to improve on their fourth-place finish in the previous edition. The group stage consists of two groups with four teams (A and B) and two with three teams (C and D). The top-ranked team in each group will progress to the semi-finals.
Cosafa competitions manager Joshua Knipp remarked: “This year’s competition is the largest women’s football tournament on the continent, with 14 teams competing.”
South Africa captain Refiloe Jane, praised the Cosafa Cup’s role in developing players: “The tournament kick-started my career in 2018. It’s a great platform for young players to showcase their skills.”
South Africa have won seven of the previous 11 Cosafa Women’s Championships, with Zimbabwe (2011), Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi being the other trophy winners.
HollywoodBets Cosafa Women’s Championship Draw
GROUP A: South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini, Seychelles
GROUP B: Malawi, Botswana, Madagascar, Mauritius
GROUP C: Zambia, Angola, Comoros
GROUP D: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho
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