* Malawi’s opening match is against Lesotho in Group B on Thursday, June 5 from 15h00 CAT before facing Namibia on Sunday, June 8
* And wrapping up their group stage matches with a clash against defending champions, Angola on June 10
* East Africans Tanzania have replaced Morocco as guest nation as they prepare to co-host CHAN finals alongside Kenya and Uganda in August
By Duncan Mlanjira
All matches of the COSAFA Cup 2025 that kicks off on Wednesday will be broadcast on SABC, SuperSport and streamed live on FIFA+ — with Malawi opening their campaign against Lesotho in Group B on Thursday, June 5 from 15h00 CAT.
Advertisement
Their next match is against Namibia on Sunday, June 8 and they wrap up their group stage matches with a clash against defending champions, Angola on June 10.
Coach Kalisto Pasuwa’s squad is dominated by players from the team that took part in the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers in which they got eliminated in the last round by South Africa — losing 1-2 on aggregate after winning 1-0 at home in the first leg.
He has made slight changes, bringing in new faces to give them an opportunity to the upcoming players to prove themselves ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September.
He has on board Ascent Soccer’s graduate, Washari Jaziya, who captained of Malawi’s U20 national team and has since signed a professional contract with Japan’s Nankatsu SC.
Washari Jaziya
The others are uncapped Karonga United forward, Allen Chihana and Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves midfielder, Oscar Petro.
The full squad, which is regrouped over the weekend at Mpira Village in Blantyre and is expected to leave for South Africa tomorrow, has:
* Goalkeepers: Richard Chimbamba (Nyasa Big Bullets), George Chikooka (Silver Strikers) Lucky Tizola (Mighty Tigers FC);
* Defenders: Mark Lameck & Maxwell Paipi (both Silver Strikers), Fanizo Mwansambo (Ekhaya FC), Emmanuel Nyirenda (Mighty Wanderers), Andrew Jovinala & Blessings Mpokera (Nyasa Big Bullets), Washali Jaziya (Nankatsu SC Tokyo, Japan), Timothy Silwimba (Mighty Wanderers);
* Midfielders: Yankho Singo, Chawanangwa Gumbo, Wongani Lungu & Oscar Petro (Nyasa Big Bullets), Charles Nkhoma (Moyale Barracks), Zebron Kalima (Silver Strikers), Blessings Singini (Mighty Wanderers);
* Strikers: Zeliati Nkhoma & Olson Kanjira (Kamuzu Barracks), Wisdom Mpinganjira, Gaddie Chirwa & Promise Kamwendo (Mighty Wanderers), Chikumbutso Salima (Nyasa Big Bullets), Allen Chihana (Karonga United.
Meanwhile, Morocco have withdrawn from the COSAFA Cup 2025, to be staged in Mangaung, Bloemfontein in South Africa, and have been replaced in the 14-team field by East Africa guest nation Tanzania.
Tanzania
It’s a vital preparation opportunity for the ahead of the CHAN finals which they will co-host alongside Kenya and Uganda in August.
All the competing teams will also use the opportunity to build towards the last two rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers in September and those who qualified for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) 2025 Morocco finals in Morocco that kick off at the end of the year.
Tanzania, who open their campaign on June 7 against Madagascar before facing eSwatini in their game on June 11, are no strangers to the COSAFA Cup having competed three times before, including in the inaugural year in 1997.
Advertisement
They finished fourth on that occasion in what was a round-robin competition, drawing three of their four games — before returning in 2015 but did not make it out of their pool, losing all three fixtures.
They were back two years later and this time took the bronze medal, knocking out hosts South Africa in the quarterfinals but lost 2-4 to Zambia in the semifinals — before edging out Lesotho on penalties to finish third.
Advertisement
Tanzania qualified for the CAF AfCON in both 2019 and 2023, having also featured all the way back in 1980.
Hosts South Africa are in Group A alongside Mozambique, Mauritius and Zimbabwe while two groups comprise three teams each — Tanzania, Madagascar, eSwatini (Group C) and Zambia, Comoros, Botswana (Group D).—Additional content by COSAFA Media
