Hosts South Africa will renew their long-standing rivalry with Zimbabwe after the two regional giants were drawn together in Group A of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup 2025. The group stage draw, conducted on Wednesday in Mangaung, also sees last year’s bronze medalists Mozambique and Mauritius completing the pool.
The tournament will run from June 4–15, marking the first time Mangaung hosts the event, with matches set to be played at the iconic Free State Stadium, a 2010 FIFA World Cup venue, and the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.
South Africa will be aiming to end their trophy drought, having last won the competition in 2021, while six-time champions Zimbabwe will be eager to reclaim the title they last held in 2018. Both sides will see this as a golden opportunity to end their respective waits.
Group B features defending champions Angola, who face a familiar opponent in Namibia—a team they drew 0-0 with in the 2024 group stages before emphatically defeating 5-0 in last year’s final. Malawi and Lesotho round out this competitive group.
In Group C, Morocco—invited as a guest nation and semifinalists at the 2022 FIFA World Cup—will battle it out in a three-team pool alongside Madagascar and Eswatini.
Group D includes tournament heavyweights Zambia, who hold a record seven COSAFA Cup titles, along with Comoros and Botswana.
Only the top team from each group will progress to the semi-finals. The Group A winner will face the Group D winner, while the Group B victor will take on the Group C leader.
The COSAFA Cup is once again expected to offer thrilling action and serves as a vital tune-up for countries preparing to resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September. Teams could play up to five matches during the competition.
All matches will be broadcast live on SABC, SuperSport, and streamed on FIFA+. The complete fixture list will be released soon.
HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA CUP 2025 GROUPS:
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Group A: South Africa, Mozambique, Mauritius, Zimbabwe
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Group B: Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Lesotho
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Group C: Morocco, Madagascar, Eswatini
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Group D: Zambia, Comoros, Botswana