Zimbabwe eliminated even after an dominant 3-1 win over Mozambique
* Zambia were eliminated just after losing their first game in three-team group they lost to Comoros
* From which Comoros went on to draw with Botswana to amass four points — technically eliminating Zambia leaving stage for South Africa, Madagascar among the semi finalists
By Duncan Mlanjira
Record seven-time winners of the COSAFA Cup, Zambia, Mozambique and six-time champions, Zimbabwe have also been eliminated from the 2025 edition in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
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Zambia were eliminated just after losing their first game in three-team group they lost to Comoros from which Comoros went on to draw with Botswana to amass four points — technically eliminating Zambia.
Despite their dominant 3-1 win over Mozambique in their final match campaign yesterday, Zimbabwe were also tossed out after the Group A ticket was snatched by South Africa by the smallest of margins after three teams, including Zimbabwe, had finished the group equal on four points.
Hosts South Africa topped the group due to a +1 goal difference while Zimbabwe had a zero goal difference following a goalless draw against Mauritius in their opener and a 2-0 defeat to Bafana Bafana in the second match.
Mozambique also finished with four points but also crashed out as they had a -1 goal difference while Mauritius finished bottom of the group with three points.
From three group matches, Malawi Flames didn’t manage to score a goal — losing 1-0 in the first group game against Lesotho, drawing 0-0 against Namibia in the second and needing a win against Angola in the last group match, which they lost 0-1 last evening.
The Zambia squad at the COSAFA Cup 2025
Zamfoot.com reports that the only consolation was that they have prepared for the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in August.
Joining the COSAFA CUP 2025 as guest nation were the CHAN co-host, Tanzania, who have also been eliminated from Group C which was led by Madagascar on 4 points.
Also participating at the CHAN, after eliminating Malawi in the final round of the qualifiers, are South Africa, whose interim coach at the COSAFA Cup 2025, Vela Khumalo, lamented his side’s poor finishing after watching them fail to convert chances during their goalless draw against Mauritius yesterday.
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South Africa join Uganda, Niger, Guinea and Algeria in Group C of the CHAN finals to be joined there by COSAFA sides, South Africa, Angola, Madagascar and Zambia.
The COSAFA Cup 2025 is a crucial preparation platform for eight teams heading to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) Morocco 2025 — Angola, Botswana, Comoros, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
The remaining teams will be aiming to strategically using this competition to refine their tactics, assess squad depth, and build momentum AfCON Morocco 2025 finals.
Of the seven COSAFA nations that have qualified for the AfCON finals, only South Africa (1996) and Zambia (2012) have lifted the continental crown which is also a chance to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
