2025 COSAFA Women's Championship
Association football championship
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The 2025 COSAFA Women's Championship, officially known as the 2025 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship for sponsorship purposes, was the thirteenth edition of the COSAFA Women's Championship, the annual international women's association football championship was contested by the women's national teams of Southern Africa. Initially set to be held in the fall of 2025, the tournament was pushed to early 2026 due to the host's unavailability. South Africa hosted the tournament for the eighth straight edition from 18 February to 1 March 2026.[1][2]
| |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | South Africa |
| City | Polokwane |
| Dates | 18 February – 1 March 2026 |
| Teams | 11 (from 1 sub-confederation) |
| Venues | 3 (in 1 host city) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Namibia (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  South Africa |
| Third place |  Zambia |
| Fourth place |  Zimbabwe |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 19 |
| Goals scored | 46 (2.42 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Makhotso Moalosi Deborah Henry Ireen Khumalo Rutendo Makore(3 goals each) |
| Best player | Zenatha Coleman |
| Best goalkeeper | Melissa Matheus |
| Fair play award | Zambia |
← 2024 2026 → | |
Zambia were the defending champions, having won their second title after beating South Africa 4–3 on penalties following a scoreless draw.[3][4] However, they were unable to retain the trophy, as they were eliminated by eventual champions Namibia in the semi-finals.[5] The Brave Gladiators went on to secure their maiden women's football title, defeating hosts South Africa 2–1 after extra time in the final.[6][7] Zimbabwe's Rutendo Makore claimed the Golden Boot after scoring three goals throughout the tournament.[8] Meanwhile, Namibia's forward Zenatha Coleman was awarded the Golden Ball after being voted the competition's best player. Her teammate Melissa Matheus secured the Golden Glove, presented to the tournament's top-performing goalkeeper.
Postponement and host selection
By mid-October 2025, close to the initial scheduled period for the tournament to take place, it was announced that South Africa, which had hosted the previous seven editions, were not willing to host the tournament for an eighth time.[9] With no other country willing to step in as host, COSAFA announced the postponement of the 2025 edition to the early quarter of 2026.[10] With the tournament now pushed to early 2026, ahead of WAFCON taking place in March, the championship will serve as a preparation competition for the three regional body members that had qualified for the continental finals.[11] On 23 January 2026, COSAFA confirmed that South Africa would host the tournament for an eighth time, providing fine-tuning ahead of the continent's finals.[12]
Location and venues
The 2025 edition was hosted in Polokwane, marking the city's first time hosting the tournament among South Africa's eight editions as host.
The following 3 venues were used for the tournament:
| Polokwane | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Seshego Stadium | Old Peter Mokaba Stadium | New Peter Mokaba Stadium | |
| Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 45,500 | |
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Teams
Pariticpating teams
Eligibility for participation in the championship is open to all 14 COSAFA members; however, teams outside the regional body may also be eligible if they receive an invitation.
On 4 February 2026, COSAFA announced that 11 countries would participate in the 2025 edition. Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles, all of which participated in 2024, decided not to participate in this edition.
Note: All appearance statistics exclude the 2008 edition.
| Team | App | Last appearance |
Previous best performance | FIFA ranking December 2025 |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Angola |
8th | 2024 | Runners-up (2008) | 155 | [13] |
 Botswana |
11th | 2024 | Runners-up (2020) | 141 | [13] |
 Eswatini |
11th | 2024 | Group stage (2002, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) | 184 | [14][13] |
| Lesotho |
10th | 2024 | Group stage (2002, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024) | 177 | [15][16] |
 Madagascar |
6th | 2024 | Group stage (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024) | 192 | [16] |
| Malawi |
12th | 2024 | Champions (2023) | 153 | [17][16] |
 Mozambique |
11th | 2024 | Third place (2023) | 172 | [18] |
| Namibia |
9th | 2024 | Runners-up (2006) | 124 | [18] |
| South Africa |
12th | 2024 | Champions (2002, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) | 55 | [18] |
| Zambia |
12th | 2024 | Champions (2022, 2024) | 64 | [19][20] |
| Zimbabwe |
11th | 2024 | Champions (2011) | 129 | [21][20] |
Squads
Each national team had to submit a squad of 23 players, three of whom had to be goalkeepers.[22]
Draw
The final group stage draw took place in Polokwane on 4 February 2026 at 11:00 SAST (UTC+2).[23][24]
The top three teams from the previous tournament were automatically seeded into the first positions of Groups A–C. Hosts South Africa were placed in A1, defending champions Zambia in B1, and Mozambique in C1. The remaining teams were allocated to two pots for the draw:
Match officials
COSAFA appointed 10 referees and 12 assistant referees for the tournament.
Referees
Laurinda Caluvi
Kealeboga Koitsiwe
Mathapelo Morake
Élodie Livaharivony
Rose Zimba
Cacilda Fernando
Hloniphile Msezane- Nonjabulo Ndlela
Anna Banda
Grace Gimo
Assistant referees
- Kakale Mbiko
Patricia Mkhaliph- Elisane Rafanomezantsoa
- Herilalaina Razafitsalama
- Happiness Mbandambanda
- Margarete Gimo
- Roda Mondlane
Olivia Amukuu- Eveline Augustinus
- Nandipha Menze
- Beauty Siatontola
- Claris Simango
Group stage
All times are local, SAST (UTC+2). The match schedule was announced by COSAFA on 5 February 2026.[25]
| Tie-breaking criteria for group play |
|---|
The ranking of teams in the group stage was determined as follows:
|
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa (H) |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Malawi |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 6 | |
| 3 | Angola |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Lesotho |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 1 |
| South Africa | 2–0 | Malawi |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| South Africa | 2–0 | Angola |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| South Africa | 1–1 | Lesotho |
|---|---|---|
Mphelo  39' |
Report | Moalosi 30' |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zambia |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Zimbabwe |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 7 | |
| 3 | Eswatini |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 | |
| 4 | Botswana |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 1 |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namibia |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Mozambique |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | Madagascar |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 3 |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
| Mozambique | 0–2 | Namibia |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Namibia | 0–1 | Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Razanampiavy 24' |
| Mozambique | 2–0 | Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Ranking of second-place teams
Due to groups having a different number of teams, the results against the fourth-placed teams in four-team groups were not considered for this ranking.
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Zimbabwe |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | C | Mozambique |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | A | Malawi |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 3 |
Knockout stage
In the semi-finals, matches level after 90 minutes were decided by a penalty shoot-out, while extra time (followed by penalties if required) would be used only in the final.[22]
Bracket
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 27 February – Polokwane | ||||||
| Zambia | 0 | |||||
| 1 March – Polokwane | ||||||
| Namibia | 1 | |||||
| Namibia (a.e.t.) | 2 | |||||
| 27 February – Polokwane | ||||||
| South Africa | 1 | |||||
| South Africa (p) | 1 (4) | |||||
| Zimbabwe | 1 (2) | |||||
| Third place play-off | ||||||
| 1 March – Polokwane | ||||||
| Zambia | 3 | |||||
| Zimbabwe | 1 | |||||
Semi-finals
Third place play-off
Final
Goalscorers
There were 46 goals scored in 19 matches, for an average of 2.42 goals per match.
3 goals
- Makhotso Moalosi
- Deborah Henry
- Ireen Khumalo
- Rutendo Makore
2 goals
- Nonjabuliso Mokgale
- Nthabiseng Majiya
- Agness Phiri
1 goal
- Arminda Lopes
- Cristina Makua
- Maria Viera
- Nolofatso Mamela
- Aimée Razanampiavy
- Vanessa Chikupila
- Vitumbiko Mkandawire
- Olivia Phikani
- Amélia Banze
- Cina Manuel
- Leena Alweendo
- Juliana Blou
- Muhinatjo Hanavi
- Millicent Hikuam
- Memory Ngonda
- Sibulele Holweni
- Bonolo Mokoma
- Thoriso Mphelo
- Nonhlanhla Mthandi
- Gabriela Salgado
- Susan Banda
- Regina Chanda
- Mercy Chipasula
- Avell Chitundu
- Kabange Mupopo
- Agness Musesa
- Ethel Chinyerere
- Praynence Zvawanda
Source: COSAFA
Awards
The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament: the Golden Boot (top scorer), Golden Ball (best overall player) and Golden Glove (best goalkeeper).
- Group Stage Best XI and Coach
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cynthia Shonga |
Ireen Khumalo Agnes Tumbare Simangele Sikhondze Nobukhosi Ncube |
Eneless Phiri Zenatha Coleman Sbongakonke Mzobe Ary Papel |
Deborah Henry[26] Makhotso Moalosi |
| Coach: Sithethelewe Sibanda (Zimbabwe) | |||
- Final Best XI and Coach
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Matheus |
Ireen Khumalo Agnes Tumbare Lovisa Mulunga Margaret Belemu |
Eneless Phiri Zenatha Coleman Nthabiseng Majiya |
Makhotso Moalosi Rutendo Makore Deborah Henry |
| Coach: Lesley Kakuva (Namibia) | |||
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