Lehlohonolo Motsoari
The 2024 COSAFA Cup has been postponed, with new dates yet to be announced soon, the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has confirmed.
The tournament, which was originally slated for June 14 to 23, this year, has been pushed back in consideration of the challenges faced by participating member associations (PMA), COSAFA said in a recent statement.
The initial dates were too close to the recently concluded series of 2026 World Cup qualifier games, which were wrapped up on Tuesday this week.
“After discussions with various stakeholders, we are exploring a new set of dates for the 2024 COSAFA Cup and will provide an update in due course. The Southern African championship is crucial for the development of teams, players, and coaches, and we want to make sure they are able to derive maximum benefit from it,” COSAFA said.
The regional football body further assured stakeholders that the new dates for the tournament would prioritise the best possible exposure for all parties involved.
“We are aware of the various challenges our different Participating Member Associations are facing and PMAs can be rest assured that the new dates will be based on the best possible exposure for all stakeholders involved to ensure a world-class competition,” COSAFA said.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Football Association’s (LeFA) Secretary General, Mokhosi Mohapi wrote on his social media account seemingly divulging new dates for the tournament.
Mohapi said the tournament is set to begin on June 26, although he did not disclose the source of his information.
Despite these challenges, Likuena has shown promise with recent performances, including a notable win over Zimbabwe and a competitive showing in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Although they suffered a loss to Rwanda, their overall performance has brought hope to the nation, especially considering their exemption from the preliminary stages of AFCON due to recent form. Despite past disappointments in COSAFA tournaments, there’s optimism for the team’s future performances.Top of Form
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