COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025: Groups, Predictions and where to watch

The 13th edition of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship will be staged in Polokwane, South Africa, from February 18 to March 1, 2025.

The competition will provide excellent preparation for three Southern African nations: South Africa, Zambia, and Malawi, ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026.

Eleven teams from across the region will compete for the coveted trophy, making use of Polokwane’s infrastructure. The participating nations are Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Group Stage Draw

Hosts South Africa are the top seeds in Group A and will face 2023 champions Malawi, Lesotho, and Angola in what promises to be a tough pool. Group B contains defending champions Zambia, along with Botswana, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe, another tightly contested group. Group C has three teams and includes Mozambique, Namibia, and Madagascar.

The top team in each pool will advance to the semi-finals, along with the best runner-up. Because Group C has only three teams, results against the bottom sides in Groups A and B will be disregarded when calculating the best runner-up.

Broadcast and Coverage

All matches will be broadcast live on FIFA+ and COSAFA’s official YouTube channel, ensuring fans across the globe can follow the action.

Historical Context

South Africa are the record seven-time winners of the COSAFA Women’s Championship. Zambia are the defending champions after defeating South Africa 4-3 on penalties in the 2024 final in Gqeberha. Other past winners include Zimbabwe in 2011, Tanzania as a guest nation in 2021, and Malawi in 2023.

Significance of the Tournament

For South Africa, Zambia, and Malawi, the competition will serve as vital preparation for WAFCON 2026, which runs from March 17 to April 3. The stakes are high, as the four semi-finalists at WAFCON will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Beyond preparation, the COSAFA Women’s Championship continues to be a platform for emerging talent. Stars such as Temwa Chawinga, Barbra Banda, and Thembi Kgatlana first showcased their abilities in this competition before achieving success at the highest level.

Group A Prediction

South Africa, record seven-time winners, are favourites to progress from Group A. They boast depth and experience, and playing at home in Polokwane adds to their advantage. Malawi, champions in 2023, are expected to push them hard and could emerge as the best runner-up. Lesotho and Angola are likely to struggle against the quality of the top two sides.

Likely Qualifier: South Africa

Best Runner-Up Candidate: Malawi

Group B Prediction

Defending champions Zambia are expected to lead Group B. With star players like Barbra Banda, they have the firepower to dominate. Zimbabwe, past winners in 2011, could challenge for second place, while Botswana and Eswatini may find the going tough against stronger opposition.

Likely Qualifier: Zambia

Second Place Contender: Zimbabwe

Group C Prediction

Group C is smaller, but competitive. Namibia have shown steady progress in recent years and could edge Mozambique and Madagascar. Mozambique are unpredictable and capable of surprises, while Madagascar are outsiders but may cause problems with their physical style.

Likely Qualifier: Namibia

Semifinal Outlook

Based on group predictions, the semi-final lineup could feature South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, and Malawi. South Africa and Zambia are favourites to reach the final, setting up a potential repeat of the 2024 showdown, which Zambia won on penalties.