The COSAFA Under-20 Women’s Championship is set to kick off in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 19, bringing together five Southern African teams competing for the 2024 title. The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with each team battling for points over six days of competitive play.
In the opening fixture on Tuesday, Lesotho will face Zambia at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus.
The match, scheduled for 12:00 CAT (10:00 GMT), marks the start of a busy day that will also see host nation South Africa take on Mozambique at 15:00 CAT.
Botswana, drawn into the group as well, will begin their campaign on Wednesday when they meet Mozambique in the midday slot, followed by a highly anticipated clash between South Africa and Zambia later that afternoon.
The draw, held earlier this month, placed South Africa automatically in the A1 position as hosts.
Lesotho, Zambia, Mozambique, and Botswana occupy the remaining slots.
The competition will unfold over five days of back-to-back action, with a day of rest in between to allow teams to regroup and refine their strategies.
The team that tops the table at the end of the tournament will be crowned the 2024 champions.
Lesotho and Zambia’s opener will likely set the tone for the tournament.
Zambia, who were runners-up in the inaugural COSAFA U20 Women’s Championship in 2019, come in with a point to prove, having lost to East African guests Tanzania in that year’s final.
With the region’s top teams competing, Zambia will look to showcase their skill and claim the title, while Lesotho aims to make a strong showing in this prestigious competition.
Following Tuesday’s matches, Botswana’s encounter with Mozambique on Wednesday will provide a first glimpse of the team’s form and tactics.
Later that day, South Africa and Zambia are set to clash in what could be a decisive encounter in the race for the title.
Both teams are expected to be strong contenders, and their meeting early in the tournament adds an extra layer of excitement to the event.
Under the round-robin format, teams will earn three points for each win and one for a draw.
Consistency will be key as they vie to accumulate enough points to top the standings and secure the championship.
As the teams prepare for the tournament, the spotlight remains on South Africa, who will look to leverage their home advantage, and Zambia, keen to avenge their 2019 defeat.
With a mix of fresh talent and experience, the COSAFA U20 Women’s Championship promises to be a thrilling display of women’s football across Southern Africa.
