The COSAFA Show: Recent Episodes
Mark Gleeson and Nick Said
With football news, views and analysis from around Southern Africa, The COSAFA Show offers a unique window into what is happening on and off the pitch in the region.
In Episode 114 of The COSAFA Show, we speak to well-travelled Mozambican-born South African coach Roger de Sa following his latest experience on the global stage.
De Sa recently returned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he helped Ghana reach the knockout rounds as part of Carlos Queiroz’s technical team. It was another chapter in a long and successful working relationship between the two coaches that stretches back more than two decades and has taken them to several different countries and competitions.
He has since returned to South African football after being appointed technical director at Cape Town Spurs. In his new role, De Sa will focus on identifying, developing and preparing the next generation of players.
In this wide-ranging conversation, De Sa reflects on Ghana’s World Cup campaign and offers his assessment of their performances on football’s biggest stage. He also shares his thoughts on how Bafana Bafana fared at the tournament and what their showing says about the current state of the South African national team.
The discussion examines the importance of CAF Interclub football in preparing players for international competition, as well as the role continental club tournaments can play in strengthening national teams.
De Sa also raises concerns about player development within Premier Soccer League clubs and the challenges facing young footballers as they attempt to make the transition from academy structures into the professional game.
In the latest episode of The COSAFA Show, Gaborone United Ladies coach Khalid Niyonzima looks ahead to his side’s defence of the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier title.
The 2026 tournament will be staged in Botswana from August 20-29, handing the defending champions home advantage as they seek to return to the continental finals for a second successive year.
With the draw set to take place in Gaborone on Wednesday, July 22, Niyonzima discusses his team’s preparations, the lessons learned from last year’s successful campaign and the challenge of retaining the regional crown.
He also reflects on the continued growth of women’s football in Botswana and what another strong showing on home soil could mean for the game in the country.
The latest episode of The COSAFA Show shines a light on player development and the growth of women’s football in the Southern African region.
We hear from former Bafana Bafana defender Mark Fish, who discusses an exciting new link between his foundation and English Championship side Charlton Athletic, a club he represented during his playing career.
Fish has long been passionate about developing young talent, in partnership with COSAFA, through his Fast Footie programme and Foundation, and he explains what this link-up with Charlton could mean for players in the region as they look to follow a pathway into the professional game.
He also shares his thoughts on the increasing number of Southern African players making their mark abroad, and what more can be done to help young footballers from the region take the next step in their careers.
Also on this episode, COSAFA Women’s Football head Violet Jubane gives us the latest on the women’s game in Southern Africa.
Jubane offers her insight into the progress being made across the region, the challenges that remain, and the opportunities ahead as COSAFA continues to support the development of women’s football at all levels.
Technical Study Groups (TSGs) are becoming a vital and valued part of coaching as they look beyond the scorelines to examine trends, tactics, player development and the bigger lessons the game is teaching us.
In Africa, and very much the COSAFA region too, that role has become increasingly important as the continent’s football continues to evolve at every level.
TSGs help federations, coaches and development structures understand not only what is happening in major competitions, but why it is happening.
They turn matches into learning tools and provide insight that can influence everything from youth development to senior national team performance.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show, we take a closer look at the value of TSGs, with a special focus on the Southern African region, by talking to the people involved in them.
Namibia made history with a maiden title at the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 after they defeated hosts South Africa 2-1 in the final in Polokwane on Sunday.
It was a solid campaign throughout from Namibia, who got their revenge some 20 years after South Africa beat them in the 2006 decider.
All teams would have taken much from the tournament, where they were able to fine-tune their squads and look at players who might previously have been on the fringes of selection.
On this episode of the COSAFA Show, we hear from victorious Namibia coach Lesley Kavuka and South Africa’s Dr Desiree Ellis as they assess the final, and the campaign as a whole.
The draw is compete for the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 that will be staged in Polokwane from February 18 to March 1, where Zambia will look to defend their regional title.
They will face competition from the likes of host South Africa and Malawi, with the trio also using the tournament to build towards the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 that is scheduled to kick-off in March.
We hear from Zambia coach Nora Hauptle about her preparations for both competitions.
We also get the view of FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger on the trends seen at the recent TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
On a similar theme, we also hear from former Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini for her thoughts on the tournament, where she was working as a television analyst.
The 2026 COSAFA Women’s Championship takes centre stage in South Africa from 18 February to 1 March, and The COSAFA Show is right at the heart of the conversation.
With the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 fast approaching, the tournament could hardly come at a better time, offering the region’s leading sides the perfect competitive platform to prepare.
For South Africa, Zambia and Malawi, it is a vital opportunity to sharpen their edge and build momentum ahead of a demanding continental campaign.
The TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON will be staged in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April, with far more than continental pride on the line.
The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, raising the stakes significantly for teams with global ambitions. For the three COSAFA representatives, this regional championship is not just preparation, it marks the beginning of a challenging journey toward the global finals.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show Podcast, we unpack why the COSAFA Women’s Championship has become such a crucial fixture on the women’s football calendar and what it means for player development, competitiveness and confidence heading into TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON.
We are joined by COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes, who shares insight into the vision behind the tournament, its growing impact in the region, and what else is in the pipeline for COSAFA women’s football in 2026 and beyond.
In this edition of the COSAFA Show, we chat to former Botswana international Dipsy Selolwane about football development ahead of the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier that starts in Stellenbosch on Friday.
We also get fascinating insights from renowned football performance analyst Musi Matlaba, who has worked at some of the biggest clubs on the continent and is among the finest in his field.
He breaks down the work of an analyst and what goes into preparing teams for a match in an interview not to be missed.
But first, Selolwane gives us his insights into school football on the continent and the academy he is running in Gaborone, which could prove a game-changer for aspiring players in Botswana.
In the second segment, Matlaba, who has worked for the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly in Africa, as well as several teams in the Middle East in the role of football performance analyst, offers an intriguing perspective on how teams are using data to prepare for matches.
As we gear up for the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier in Stellenbosch from December 5-7, we shine a spotlight on youth development and pathways in national teams for young players.
Renowned development coach Shawn Bishop, who is currently at Belgian champions Union St Gilloise, will speak at the upcoming COSAFA High Performance & Coaching Seminar Series, an online platform for Member Associations to engage on various development topics.
Bishop will present on ‘National Team Pathways & Modern Football Trends’, and the CAF African Schools Football Championship is the very start of the journey in international football for Boys and Girls who take part in the Under-15 competition.
Their journey from here will hopefully take them through Under-17 and Under-20 national teams, to the senior international level.
Bishop shares his insights on development in the COSAFA region, what is our potential and how Member Associations can upgrade their development initiatives to make them more competitive in the future.
On this week’s COSAFA Show podcast, we have a tale of two coaches, one who has led his team to the FIFA World Cup next year, and another who is looking to upset the odds and get to the continental championship. Namibia coach Lucky Kakuva will be proud of the fight his side showed as they lost 4-2 to powerhouse COSAFA rivals Zambia on Wednesday.
But they now face an uphill battle in the second leg in Ndola to try and work their way back into the tie. The winner will advance to the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, which will be played next March and April
That tournament will produce the four teams from Africa that will compete at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027.
One man who has already steered his side to the global finals is South Africa men’s coach Hugo Broos, who will be present at the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. It was not plain sailing for Bafana Bafana, but he offers his thoughts on qualifying out of a group that also contained Nigeria.
The TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 | COSAFA Qualifiers were recently staged in Harare, Zimbabwe to full stadiums and an incredible atmosphere. Stands were packed at the Ngoni Stadium despite the host nation going out in the group stages, and it was a reminder again, if one was needed, just what a football-loving country Zimbabwe is.
South Africa took home the trophy for a record-equaling fourth time, drawing them level with Zambia on the all-time list, with a squad that was put together just days before the tournament started.
They qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026, along with runners-up Angola and Mozambique, who took the bronze medal. The trio will represent the COSAFA region on the continental stage and we hope will be three of the 10 African nations who will qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar next year.
We will hear from all three of their coaches, starting with South Africa’s Vela Khumalo, who had just a few training sessions to get his side ready for competition.
Angola coach Mario Catala was disappointed his side could only take home the silver medal despite an excellent run to the final in which they scored 18 goals in four games and did not conceded a single one. But his pre-tournament aim was also to qualify for the continental finals, and that was achieved.
Mozambique coach Luis Guerreiro had to settle for the bronze medal but he too can look forward to a place in the continental finals after the Young Mambas beat Comoros 3-0 in the third-place play-off.
We have a varied COSAFA Show for you this week, taking in a top striker, a women’s football coach on the rise and the aftermath of the of the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 | COSAFA Qualifiers that were won by Gaborone United Ladies FC.
Namibia’s hot-shot striker Peter Shalulile recently reached a major milestone when he became the most prolific goal-scorer in the 29-year history of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.
We hear from him on that record, getting Namibia to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and what the future might old.
Seychelles women’s coach Chris Yip-Au recently took part in the FIFA Elite Performance: Coaches’ Mentorship Program. She had experienced Australian tactician Vicki Linton as her mentor and tells us about that experience.
Gaborone United were crowned champions of the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 | COSAFA Qualifiers this past weekend when they defeated ZESCO Ndola Girls in a thrilling penalty shoot-out in the final in Johannesburg.
Their victory sees them qualify for the continental finals and also makes up for defeat on penalties in the decider last year.
Their coach Khalid Niyonzima has masterminded their success and spoke after the final.
Zesco Ndola Girls had hoped to become the second Zambian winners of the regional title after Green Buffaloes in 2022 but fell just short. Their coach William Zulu tells us where it all went wrong.
On our special 100th edition of The COSAFA Show, a century of episodes that have taken you across the Southern African region and beyond over the last few years, we chat to former Namibia international Salome Iiyambo, who is the owner and coach of Beauties FC.
They are one of two teams that will debut at the expanded CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers to be played in Johannesburg from August 22-31.
Beauties are an historic club in Namibia but have been drawn into a tough pool at the regional championship that also includes two-time winners Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, Ntopwa FC of Malawi and Zambia’s Zesco Ndola Girls.
Only the winner of the tournament advances to the continental finals and Iiyambo knows the task at hand for her side but says their appearance at the tournament is about a lot more than what happens on the pitch.
In this latest episode of The COSAFA Show, we look ahead to the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco this week, and glance back at the Region 5 Games that were played in Windhoek.
Two of our COSAFA sides have advanced to the knockout rounds of the WAFCON competition, including defending champions South Africa, who face Senegal on Saturday. But before that, Zambia are in action against nine-time winners Nigeria on Friday in what will truly be a test of their championship credentials.
We will hear from both of their coaches ahead of the crunch knockout games.
Botswana narrowly missed out on a place in the quarterfinals despite a 2-1 win over Tunisia in their final Group B game but leave with their heads held high.
We also check in with the victorious South Africa men’s coach Vela Khumalo after they lifted the Region 5 Games crown, which served as the COSAFA championship in that age-group this year. Although an Under-20 competition, South Africa triumphed with an Under-17 selection as they prepare for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year, making their achievement all the more impressive.
In this latest episode of The COSAFA Show we talk all things match officials and the Video Assistant Referee.
We discuss the VAR system that was implemented from the very first match at the recent HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup in Manguang.
COSAFA Referees manage Felix Tangawarima and COSAFA VAR Technician Ramy Gamal tell us how the system was put in place and the extensive plans they have for the region and beyond.
We speak to three referees from the COSAFA region who are off to the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations that will be played in Morocco from July 5-26. They tell us about their journey.
A total of six match officials from the COSAFA region will do duty at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
We chat to three of them - Letticia Viana from Eswatini, Maria Rivet from Mauritius and Akhona Makalima from South Africa, as well as referees instructor Abdul Ebrahim.
In this latest episode of The COSAFA Show, where we chat to Angola coach Pedro Goncalves as he prepares to defend the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup title his side won in 2024 as they ended a 20-year wait for the trophy.
It is an incredibly busy six months for Palancas Negras as they compete in Mangaung from June 4-15, and also take part in the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN finals in August, and the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco at the end of the year.
Goncalves is currently the longest serving national team coach in African football having been in his post since 2019, and has worked in the country for the past decade.
He gives us insight into his team and the current state of Angolan football.
The development of women’s football in the COSAFA region in the last decade has been impressive, with opportunities on and off the pitch in be part of the Beautiful Game.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show, we have an interview with COSAFA Women’s Football Consultant Violet Jubane.
The timing is perfect with the COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship on the horizon, as the next generation of the region’s female football stars will show their potential.
In the latest episode of The COSAFA Show we chat to Leah Sweetness Masango, leader of COSAFA’s vital Technical Study Group at the organisation’s tournaments.
COSAFA held a workshop for aspiring Technical Study Group members from across the Southern African region last week, and she fills us in on the details around that.
There were coaches, former players, technical directors and other stakeholders all present as a range of subjects were discussed.
Masango also tells us about her exciting future, which includes being selected as one of just two coaches from the African continent for a prestigious FIFA programme.
She has already been to Brazil and will be travelling to various other countries around the world as she builds her knowledge to bring back to the Southern African region.
In our latest episode of the COSAFA Show we have Part 2 of the extensive views of newly re-elected CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, who hails from the COSAFA region.
Dr Motsepe will enter a second term at the helm of the game on the continent having been re-elected unopposed following successful first term in which great strides were made women’s and youth football, modernizing refereeing on the continent and several other spheres.
CAF has improved its commercial outlook which has led to increased prizemoney in its competitions across the board.In Part 2 of this discussion with journalists,
Dr Motsepe talks about the progress made in his first term, and how he plans to shape the future of the game on the continent in the coming years.
In our latest episode of the COSAFA Show, which is actually a two-parter, we get the extensive views of newly re-elected CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, who hails from the COSAFA region.
Dr Motsepe will enter a second term at the helm of the game on the continent having been re-elected unopposed following successful first term in which great strides were made women’s and youth football, modernizing refereeing on the continent and several other spheres.
CAF has improved its commercial outlook which has led to increased prizemoney in its competitions across the board. In Part 1 of this discussion with journalists, Dr Motsepe talks about the progress made in his first term, improving women’s football and making the African globally competitive. We will have Part 2 next week.
In this edition of The COSAFA Show we delve into all things Lesotho football to understand the successes and challenges of the Beautiful Game in the equally beautiful Mountain Kingdom.
We chat to Lesotho Football Association General Secretary Mokhosi Mohapi, who has overseen significant gains for the country on and off the pitch but also admits there is much work still to do.
This in-depth interviews covers areas such as the senior national teams, women’s football, junior set-ups, the local league, referees and much, much more in order to get a solid understanding of the current state of Lesotho football, but also what the future holds.
A record seven COSAFA nations have qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 and all learned their fate with the draw that was held in Rabat this week.
The 24-team tournament will be staged from 21 December, 2025 to 18 January 2026 and will be a celebration of elite African football in six host cities and nine stadia.
Three COSAFA sides - South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe have been drawn in the same pool at the finals, while Zambia and Comoros have also been paired together, alma with hosts Morocco and Mali.
Botswana return for a second ever finals following their first in 2012, while Mozambique are also back at the finals.
There is no doubt the COSAFA Cup to be staged in mid-year will have extra spice this season as coaches look at their various options.
We speak to coaches from all seven teams to get their reactions to the draw.
In this latest episode of The COSAFA Show we speak to Executive Director Sue Destombes as we reflect on a bumper 2024 for the organisation, and look ahead to what may be in store in 2025.
COSAFA held an unprecedented nine tournaments last year, five of them for women, despite a challenging environment and external factors that were outside of the organisation’s control.
The rewards of this long-term development of men’s and women’s football at all age-group levels can be seen in a record seven COSAFA sides qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later this year, and the continued improvement of out women’s team.
Destombes outlines the highlights of 2024, on and off the pitch, and the ambitious plans of COSAFA for 2025.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show we reflect on a record seven Southern African nations that have qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe will all be at the finals that are still some way off and start on December 18, 2025.
We will hear from two coaches who have achieved what many did not think was possible with their sides, starting with Morena Ramoreboli, who has taken Botswana to just a second ever visit to the continental showpiece event.
It is a major achievement for the nation, who will make their first appearance on the big stage since 2012.
German coach Michael Nees is new in the job with Zimbabwe, but already has them back at the AFCON after a solid qualification campaign from the Warriors.
We will also hear from him as he details his roadmap to success and the changes he has made with the side. You can listen to more of our podcasts on our YouTube channel, Spotify and iTunes, and you get also get the latest news via our website at www.cosafa.com, and on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show as we discuss all things women’s football in the COSAFA region and look ahead to the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship final that will be played in Gqeberha on Saturday.
Zambia will take on seven-time winners South Africa in the decider that promises to be a close-fought affair between two sides who have shown their tactical acumen in the tournament so far.
But first we hear from Dr Brenda Kunda, who is a COSAFA Executive Committee member and an expert on women’s football in the Southern African region and the continent as a whole.
She gives her insight into what is happening in the women’s game, which is growing at pace, not least thanks to four tournaments that will be hosted by COSAFA this year – the COSAFA Women’s Championship, CAF Women’s Champions League qualifier, and Women’s U20 and U17 tournaments.
We also hear from Zambia coach Florence Mwila following her side’s 2-0 victory over defending champions Malawi in the COSAFA Women’s Championship as she looks ahead to the final. And we also get the views of South Africa coach Maude Khumalo to the penalty shootout victory over Mozambique in the semi-finals.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show we discuss the recent HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship draw with South Africa midfielder Refiloe Jane. We also hear from Zambia assistant coach Florence Mwila, who will be leading the Copper Queens side in Gqeberha this year.
Mark Fish was a superb player in his day and was part of South Africa’s Golden Generation that won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. He also had a long career in Europe and is now set on making his name off the pitch with a new career path, which he tells us about in this in-depth interview.
Finally, we speak to Senanile Dlamini, who has been conducting research for CAF into the fitness and nutrition of players at the recent TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier in Mozambique. She will tell us more about the programme she has been working on.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show we look ahead to the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier that will be staged in Maputo, Mozambique from Thursday until the final on October 5.
There are 11 teams that will be hoping to at the very least reach the decider and earn a place at the continental finals that are to be held next year, where COSAFA will be represented by two teams.
Zambia are the record 12-time winners and looking to make it lucky number 13 is their coach Boyd Mulwanda, who himself lifted this trophy as a player all the way back in 1997, explains to us. What a special moment it would be for him if he could repeat that feat as a coach and we get his thoughts ahead of kick-off.
Namibia coach James Britz took the country to the silver medal in 2020 and is back again for a third shot at the title with a new-look team. He details his side’s preparations and what we may expect from the Young Brave Warriors in Maputo.
We also get the thoughts of the four-time CAF Women’s Coach of the Year Dr Desiree Ellis on the level of coaching on the continent and what can be done to help aspiring young female tacticians to realise their dreams.
In this latest episode of The COSAFA Show we have an exclusive interview with new Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees as he prepares the side for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers that get underway this week.
Zimbabwe will take on Kenya and Cameroon in a tough start to their bid to reach the continental finals in Morocco next year, while Nees must also plan for the resumption of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March next year.
In this extensive chat he lays down his plans for the side and gives some insight into his coaching history, and how he has almost come full circle in his career that has seen him work extensively in the COSAFA region.
We also hear from the winning coach at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier Thinasonke Mbuli from the University of the Western Cape on their triumph and what it means to the team.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show as we discuss the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers taking place this week and next in the Malawian city of Blantyre.
Only the winners will join holders Mamelodi Sundowns in the continental finals later this year, with five teams making their debut in the regional qualifiers.
We hear first from COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes about the tournament and being back in Malawi for another COSAFA event.
University of the Western Cape are representing South Africa having been runners-up to Sundowns in the last three editions of the domestic Women’s Super League. We hear from their coach Thinasonke Mbuli.
Ascent Academy will be the home team in Malawi, even if they are from the city of Lilongwe. They have a very young group of players but are packed with talent, as their coach Thom Mkolongo explains to us.
Herentals Queens will make their debut at the regional qualifiers as the first team from Zimbabwe to compete since the inaugural tournament in 2021. Midfielder Sikulekile Nyoni tells us a little more about the team.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show as we chat to Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane in a look ahead to the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier that will be staged in Malawi next month. We also hear from attendees at the recent COSAFA Regional General Secretaries workshop and get the thoughts of Magesi FC coach Clinton Larsen ahead of the new season in South Africa after he guided the Limpopo team to an unlikely promotion to the Betway Premiership that even he admits surprised many within the club.
In this special episode of The COSAFA Show as we look ahead to the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA CUP 2024 that will be played in Gqeberha from Wednesday.
COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes speaks about the tournament the readiness for what is expected to be another sizzling chapter in the history of the prestigious regional showpiece competition.
Mozambique defender Edmilson Dove is coming off a tough season for Kaizer Chiefs but has made himself available to play for The Mambas at the COSAFA Cup and shares his thoughts ahead of their first game in Gqeberha.
Bafana Bafana stand-in coach Helman Mkhalele had to barter and juggle resources to put together a squad for the COSAFA Cup but has an exciting young group of players with him at the tournament. The assistant coach to Hugo Broos has the reins at the COSAFA Cup and is looking to lead the hosts to a first title since 2021.
Finally, Rushwin Dortley of Cape Town Spurs has been chosen to captain the South Africa team, a big honour for the 22-year-old as he explains.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show as we look ahead to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers taking place this week and next, and also speak to COSAFA Executive Committee member Walter Nyamilandu-Manda.
The inaugural COSAFA Awards were held in Johannesburg recently and brought out a galaxy of stars to celebrate our achievements as a football community in Southern Africa. There were many big winners on the night, not least the Mamelodi Sundowns quartet of Rulani Mokwena, Ronwen Williams, Thapelo Maseko and Andile Dlamini, as we honoured those who took our game to the next level in 2023.
COSAFA is about to embark on an exciting new era with the acquisition of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) equipment to both roll out at its tournaments and use as a teaching tool for training purposes for match officials on the continent. In this episode of The COSAFA Show, we chat to COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes and COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima about the way forward with VAR in the region.
Ashford Mamelodi is a leading administrator on the African continent who previously served as Secretary General at the Botswana Football Association and COSAFA. He was also a FIFA Development Officer for many years. He has a book coming out soon called Protecting the Game, where he delves into his 10 years at the BFA and the lessons learned and experience gained from that period of his life.We sat down to discuss his career, starting out with why he decided to write his book.
Among the coaches at the COSAFA Beach Soccer Championships will be Brazilian Guga Zloccowick, who takes charge of Saudi Arabia. The Middle East nation are the first ever non-African team to compete at a COSAFA event and Zloccowick talks to us about the tournament, growing the game in Saudi Arabia and much more in a fascinating interview for The COSAFA Show.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show we look ahead to the COSAFA Beach Soccer Championships in Durban next month, as well as the third round of African women’s Olympic qualifiers. Featuring Des Ellis, Thelma Smidt. Racheal Kundananji, Babra Banda and Joshua Knipp.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show as we look back on a superb first week for most of our Southern African sides at the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast. Namibia beat the odds to defeat Tunisia, Mozambique drew with powerhouse Egypt, Angola held Algeria and Zambia played to a 1-1 draw with fancied DR Congo. Only South Africa have some work to do after they slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Mali. We will hear from several coaches and players.
The Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast get under way on Saturday and there will be five teams from the COSAFA region participating. We speak to a number of them ahead of their title challenge.
In this episode we hear from COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima on the next generation of match officials in the region and get the views of COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes on the African Schools Football Championship qualifiers, as well as the exciting, proposed plan for the organisation’s tournament calendar in 2024.
The first two rounds of 2026 World Cup qualifiers threw up some surprise results, with great wins and disappointing defeats for our 14 competing teams from the COSAFA region. Here to talk us through the pools is African football guru Mark Gleeson, who is respected across the continent for his views on the game.
In our latest episode of The COSAFA Show, we have an exclusive interview with Namibia national team coach Collin Benjamin about the past, present and future for the Brave Warriors.
In this special episode of The COSAFA Show we speak to Dr Nonhlanhla Mkumbuzi, who is leading a research project in conjunction with FIFA and COSAFA that aims to collect data on African female footballers and their health.
We look ahead to a weekend of African Champions League and Confederation Cup matches involving teams from the COSAFA region and also take a look back at the recently completed Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where five teams from Southern Africa booked their place in the finals in Ivory Coast early next year.
In this episode, we hear from three coaches as they prepare for the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA qualifiers 2023 – James Sangala of Ntopwa Super Queens, Carol Kanyemba of defending champions Green Buffaloes and Young Buffaloes tactician Fisiwe Hlophe.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show we look back at a successful 2023 Women’s World Cup for African teams, not least our very own South Africa and Zambia. We will hear from Banyana Banyana forward Thembi Kgatlana and midfielder Linda Motlhalo, as well as coach Des Ellis. We also get the view of Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape about their campaign.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show we highlight a fantastic new partnership between COSAFA and International Soccer Science & Performance Federation that will allow coaches at all levels in the region to further their knowledge. We will hear from victorious Zambia tactician Moses Sichone as he shares his thoughts on winning the recent HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup, and get the views of beaten coach Leslie Notsi, who took Lesotho oh so close to their maiden title.
In this episode we hear from COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima on the latest from the world of match officials, and also catch up with Dr Thulani Ngwenya on the excellent work he is doing in training medical personnel. We also have an interview with COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes.
In this episode we chat to Botswana coach Mogomotsi Mpote about their upcoming clash with Libya, but also his team's participation in the 2023 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup. We also hear from Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.
South African Football Association President Dr Danny Jordaan is on a mission to bring the FIFA Women’s World Cup to Africa for the first time in 2027 and will step up that bid this week when he travels to Cairo to engage CAF. Part 2 of our exclusive interview!
In this episode of The COSAFA Show we have an exclusive interview with Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand that starts on July 20.
We have Part 1 of an exclusive interview with SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan as he discusses Bafana Bafana and their journey under coach Hugo Broos. We also hear from Lucas Radebe, Asamoah Gyan and Clarence Seedorf on the importance of schools football.
In this episode we have an exclusive interview with Zambia coach Avram Grant, and also hear from, Namibia boss Collin Benjamin following their fantastic Africa Cup of Nations qualifier win against Cameroon.
In this special episode of The COSAFA Show we have an exclusive interview with Angola coach Pedro Goncalves on what is lining up to be a crucial period for Palancas Negras with 2026 World Cup qualification very much on the agenda.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show we chat to Leah Sweetness Masango, a coach who is one of the driving forces behind the Technical Study Groups (TSG) that work at COSAFA tournaments. She gives us a fascinating insight into the job they do and the role they play in advancing football in the region. There is a lot more to it than just analysing formations and patterns of play!
In this special episode of The COSAFA Show we speak to our Competitions Manager Joshua Knipp about the upcoming tournaments that have been penciled in for the 2023 COSAFA calendar.
In this final episode of The COSAFA Show for 2022, we discuss the COSAFA Women’s Leadership Programme (CWLP) and salute the work being done to assist women to rise in football across the region. We speak to COSAFA General Secretary Sue Destombes about this year’s programme and the future, as well as overall CWLP winner Alessia Moonesawmy from Mauritius about her experience and what may lie ahead in 2023.
The World Cup in Qatar is almost at an end and it has been a momentous tournament for Africa. Who better to sit and assess the tournament for the continent than our very own Mark Gleeson, who gives his views on the five African teams, the competition as a whole and what it means for the continent going forward. In this week’s show we also wrap up the recent TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier andCOSAFA Girls’ Under-17 Championship that were both played as part of the Region 5 Games Lilongwe 2022.
We have a special exclusive interview with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala ahead of their African Women’s Champions League final against hosts AS FAR in Rabat on Sunday.
In this episode we speak to COSAFA General Secretary Sue Destombes about the CAF African Schools Championship being staged in Malawi, hear from renowned development coach Farouk Khan and get the views of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala ahead of the defence of their CAF Women's Champions League title in Morocco.
In this episode we speak to coach Dario Monteiro from defending champions Mozambique ahead of the TotalEnergies AFCON U20 Egypt 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier in Eswatini, as well as the coach of the hosts Mduduzi Nxumalo.
In our 50th episode of The COSAFA Show we chat to Eswatini Football Association President Peter Simelane and Zunaid Mall, who is technical director for the Mauritius Football Association.
In this episode we speak to Zambia star Ireen Lungu about the improvement in women's football in that country, and also chat to veteran administrator Natasha Tsichlas about the women’s game in the region.
In this special episode of The COSAFA Show, we sit down with three figures from women’s football in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana to hear their stories and the growth in the game in those countries that led to their excellent performances at the recent 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
A bumper episode in which we hear from coaches at the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup 2022, get the thoughts of Cavin Johnson, who was part of the Technical Study Group at the competition, learn all about the Fast Footie concept, get the latest on COVID-19 and tournaments, and hear from Ashford Mamelodi on his recent administration workshop in Durban.
In this episode we have a fascinating discussion with COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima, who is a leading expert on match officials on the continent. We also hear what Durban has in store for the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA CUP 2022, and get the inside track from the Zambia camp on the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
In this episode we speak to various stakeholders around the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup taking place in Durban and hear from Seychelles Football Federation President Elvis Chetty on the exciting plans in that country.
In this episode we speak to three COSAFA member associations presidents - Walter Nyamilandu (Malawi), Maclean Letshwiti (Botswana) and Peter Simelane - on a range of subjects!
In this episode of The COSAFA Show, we hear from newly-elected COSAFA President Artur de Almeida e Silva on his vision for the organisation over the next four years, and from new Vice-President Said Ali Said Athouman as he gives an insight into Comoros football.
In this episode we chat to Botswana national team coach Mogomotsi Mpote about his team's chances in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and get the views of Petro Atletico coach Alexandre Santos. We also speak to Orlando Pirates tactician Mandla Ncikazi.
In this episode, we get reaction to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations group stage qualifier draw from Malawi and South Africa, while COSAFA General Secretary Sue Destombes reveals the scheduled tournament calendar for 2022.
Nigeria legend Sunday Oliseh says there is one African side who can win the FIFA World Cup this year ... but which one is he talking about? We also hear from Eswatini coach Dominic Kunene, Bafana boss Hugo Broos and Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
In this episode we speak to new Zambia coach Aljosa Asanovic about his ambitions with the team, and get the thoughts of Lesotho Football Association Secretary General Mokhosi Mohapi as they begin their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign.
In this episode we have a fascinating discussion with two coaches from LaLiga who have recently completed Masterclass workshops in the COSAFA region. They give their thoughts on modern trends in the game. We also hear from the coaches of South Africa, Zambia and Namibia after the recent 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
In this episode we talk to COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima about the performance of Victor Gomes in the Africa Cup of Nations final, hear from Manqoba Mngqithi ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns' CAF Champions League pool stage, speak to Teko Modise about the documentary about his life and hear from two club bosses in Zambia after a workshop there for clubs hosted by UEFA and FAZ.
In this episode we look back at the performances of the COSAFA sides at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, including a chat with legendary journalist Frank Simon.
In this special edition of The COSAFA Show, we hear from COSAFA General Secretary Sue Destombes, who reflects on the last 12 months for the organisation and looks ahead to what is in store for 2022.
In this episode we hear from FIFA President Gianni Infantino on his vision for African and global football, talk to former Bafana Bafana defender Mark Fish and find out what ex-Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Matty Pattison is up to.
We chat to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies star Rhoda Mulaudzi ahead of the CAF Women's Champions League final and hear from SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan on why they have asked FIFA to investigate their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
In this episode we speak to Malawi head coach Meke Mwase about his team's qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations, hear from young South African-born DeAndre Vollenhoven, who is playing for Auckland City in New Zealand, and get the latest on preparations ahead of the Region 5 Games Maseru 2020.
In this episode we get insight from legendary French coach Claude LeRoy, hear from Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and speak to the coaches of Malawi and Tanzania after the 2021 COSAFA Women's Championship final.
In this special episode of The COSAFA Show we speak to South African coach Shilene Booysen, who is charge of South Sudan at the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship. The East African nation is taking its first tentative steps in international football and Booysen has been tasked with putting in place the building blocks for the team.
In this week's episode we chat to former Zambia national team coach Patrice Beaumelle, who is now in charge of the Ivory Coast, and here the thoughts of FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura and Chief Women's Football Officer Sarai Bareman on the future of the women's game in COSAFA and beyond.
In this episode we look ahead to the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers, hear from SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan and get the views of Namibia coach Bobby Samaria.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show we hear from Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi on the champions’ chances ahead of the new season in South Africa, and explore the three-year partnership between COSAFA, the KwaZulu-Natal Government and eThekwini Municipality that was announced this week.
We chat to players and coaches from all seven of the teams participating in the historic 2021 TOTALENERGIES CAF Women’s Champions League I COSAFA Qualifier, and also hear from COSAFA General Secretary Sue Destombes for her thoughts on the competition.
In this episode of the The COSAFA Show we speak to various coaches ahead of the COSAFA Cup semifinals on Friday, as well as get the views of Khama Billiat as Kaizer Chiefs head to Morocco to play Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League final!
In this episode we chat to Dr Thulani Ngwenya to get a sense of the safety measures that will be in place around the 2021 COSAFA Cup, and also hear from Senegal Head of Delegation Sam Diatta about the West African team's ambitions at the tournament.
In this edition we hear from coaches at Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Malawi and Mozambique following the draw for the 2021 COSAFA Cup. We also have ex-Bafana Bafana internationals Daine Klate and Elrio van Heerden on the show, as well as Timothy Shongwe, who is chairman of the COSAFA Organising Committee.
In the latest episode of The COSAFA Show, we delve into the world of Futsal, the little brother of association football that is fast growing around the world and about to get a massive boost in Southern Africa. We also speak to South Africa junior international Rowan Human.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show we hear from new Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos about his immediate plans for the team and what his future targets are. We also speak to new Botswana Football Association CEO Goabaone Taylor about her vision for the organisation.
This week we chat to South African rising star Ricardo Schutte about his progression in Portugal and Spain and talk to COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima about some exciting developments in that space, including the impending introduction of VAR. We also have a chat with a legend in women’s football on the African continent Fran Hilton-Smith about a recent coaches workshop that was staged in partnership with LaLiga.
This week we chat to Bafana Bafana midfielder Thabo Nodada about the side's Africa Cup of Nations disappointment, talk to ex-Namibia international Sandro de Gouveia and hear all about the COSAFA Women's Leadership Programme.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said speak to Banyana Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana about her excellent season with Eibar in Spain's elite division. We also chat to Mozambique national team coach Luis Goncalves as his side attempt to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and reveal an excellent initiative to up-skill women in football in the COSAFA region.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show, we speak to South Africa coach Vela Khumalo as he prepares to lead his side at the 2021 Africa Under-17 Cup of Nations that starts in Morocco on Saturday. We also chat to two candidates contesting a seat that is open to a women’s representative on the CAF executive committee. Patricia Rajeriarison from Madagascar and Kanizat Ibrahim from Comoros outline their vision should they be elected on Friday.
In this special, bumper edition of The COSAFA Show we speak to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, hear from CAF Presidential candidate Patrice Motsepe, as well as FIFA Council seat candidates Walter Nyamilandu from Malawi and Andrew Kamanga from Zambia, and Botswana FA President Maclean Letshwiti and Feizal Sidat of Mozambique on their bids to win a seat on the CAF Executive Committee.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said preview the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, including a chat with a former player for both, Stanton Fredericks, while we also hear from Zambia coach Micho Sredojevic ahead of their African Nation Championship quarterfinal on Sunday, and COSAFA General Secretary Sue Destombes reveals the compstition schedule for 2021.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said preview the African Nations Championship finals that start on Saturday, hear from Namibia Football Association President Ranga Haikali about his team's preparations and get the thoughts of leading Zambian football journalist Kalumiana Kalumiana.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said talk to victorious COSAFA Men's Under-20 Championship winning coach Dario Monteiro of Mozambique, hear from South Africa international forward Lebo Mothiba as he nears a return from injury and chat to Zambia international midfielder Charles Zulu.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said sat in on a discussion between the South African Football Journalists Association and two-time CAF Champions League winning coach Pitso Mosimane of Al Ahly as he provides some fascinating insight, while they also talk to LaLiga's Marcos Pelegrin about the Spanish league's initiatives with COSAFA and on the African continent.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said talk us through the recent 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, assessing the fortunes of the COSAFA sides with two rounds of matches remaining in March. We also talk to Malawi coach Meke Mwase, and to South Africa Women's Under-17 captain Jessica Wade, who has a special trip lined up next year.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to Zambia national women's team assistant coach Beauty Mwamba about the growth of the game in the country as the Copper Queens look ahead to next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo. There is also an interview with Zambian scoring sensation Barbra Banda, who is fresh from winning the top-scorers award in the Chinese Super League.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to South Africa coach Des Ellis ahead of the 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, as well as legendary FIFA Coach Instructor Fran Hilton-Smith about the state of the game in Africa.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to former South Africa international Bongani Khumalo about his experiences with the national team and abroad, as well as Mozambique coach Luis Goncalves. We also round up the upcoming international friendly matches.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to South African Football Association President Dr Danny Jordaan in this special edition of The COSAFA Show podcast. One of his most in-depth interviews yet!
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to Mamelodi Sundowns and Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, while we also hear from Bloemfontein Celtic and Lesotho striker Motebang Sera and the President of the Seychelles Football Federation, Elvis Chetty.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to Bafana Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki, while we hear from Confederation of African Football General Secretary Abdelmounaïm Bah and the technical director of the Mauritius Football Association, Zunaid Mall.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to Zambia and Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Enock Mwepu, while we hear from Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane and the President of the Football Association of Malawi, Walter Nyamilandu.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to Zimbabwe and Stellenbosch FC midfielder Ovidy Karuru, as well as Lesotho head coach Thabo Senong and the President of the Namibia Football Association, Ranga Haikali.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to Mozambique and Cape Town City defender Edmilson Dove, as well as Banyana Bafana coach Desiree Ellis and the President of the Botswana Football Association, Maclean Letshwiti.
Hosts Mark Gleeson and Nick Said chat to Zambia national team coach Milutin Sredojevic about his future plans with the team, as well as the chairman of new Botswana Premier League champions Jwaneng Galaxy, Njabulu Gilika, and COSAFA Secretary General Sue Destombes on what the rest of 2020 looks like for the organisation.