BARNABAS ZULU
ZAMBIA has been placed in Group D of the 2025 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup and will face Comoros and Botswana in this year’s tournament, scheduled to run from June 4 to 15 in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
The Chipolopolo head into the competition as the most successful team in COSAFA Cup history, having lifted the trophy a record seven times – one more than regional rivals Zimbabwe.
With a strong legacy in the tournament, Zambia will be aiming to extend their dominance and add another title to their collection.
This year’s edition of the COSAFA Cup will be held in Mangaung for the first time, with matches taking place at the Free State Stadium – one of the venues used during the 2010 FIFA World Cup – and the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.
The new format allows teams to play up to five matches, offering an excellent opportunity for squads to improve their fitness and fine-tune tactics ahead of other international engagements.
Adding further excitement to the competition is the inclusion of Morocco, who are making their first appearance as invited guests.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists have been drawn in Group C alongside Madagascar and Eswatini, raising the profile of the tournament.
Group A features hosts South Africa with Mozambique, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe. This group promises competitive fixtures, with South Africa and Zimbabwe both former COSAFA champions.
Group B brings together Angola, Namibia, Malawi, and Lesotho. Angola and Namibia are expected to be strong contenders in what is likely to be a tightly contested group.
With their rich COSAFA history, Zambia will look to top Group D and advance to the knockout stage.
