Depu fires Angola to back-to-back Cosafa Cup titles  Record-breaker Depu netted a brace of goals as Angola retained their Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup crown with a 3-0 victory over hosts South Africa in the 2025 final played at the Toyota Stadium in Mangaung | Bloemfontein on Sunday. Angola’s back-to-back triumphs have taken their total wins in the competition to five, level with South Africa and behind only Zambia (seven) and Zimbabwe (six). Comoros picked up the bronze medal with a 1-0 victory over fellow islanders Madagascar in the third-place play-off. South Africa almost took the lead in the final midway through the first half when Ime Okon’s looping header rebounded off the crossbar and away to safety. But it was Angola who hit the front when Depu scored a single tournament record seventh goal with a towering header from a free kick. The previous record-holder was Ovidy Karuru with six goals for Zimbabwe in 2017. But the Angolan was not done and just past the hour-mark side-footed home from 10-yards after Zini crossed low into the box to give his side a 2-0 lead and take his tally to eight for the campaign. It also extended Depu’s record of career goals in the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup to 13, as he collected back-to-back Golden Boots. That is four more than second-placed Felix Badenhorst from Eswatini. Angola added a late third with a fine free-kick goal from Milson to make it 3-0 and kill off any hope for the home side. After their 5-0 victory over Namibia in the 2024 final, it was another dominant performance from Palancas Negras. Comoros completed their best ever finish in the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup when they ended third thanks to a 1-0 victory over Madagascar in the bronze medal play-off. Madagascar dominated possession and chances, but Comoros scored with their only shot on target as Ibroihim Youssouf netted the only goal of the game with a tap-in at the back post in the 77th minute. Comoros led a quick break and when Kassim Hadji was played into space, he crossed the ball low into the penalty-box and Youssouf was on hand to score.  It is a seventh career goal in the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup for Youssouf as he extends his lead as Comoros’ top scorer in the regional competition. Depu won both the Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot prize, while compatriot Neblu claimed the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper.  South Africa had some consolation when they took home the Fair Play award. – cosafa.com  The post Depu fires Angola to back-to-back Cosafa Cup titles  appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #Angola #Football #Soccer #Depu

Angola, SA clash in Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup final  Defending champions Angola and hosts South Africa will meet in the final of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup in Mangaung | Bloemfontein on Sunday after each recorded comprehensive wins in their last-4 clashes. The final will be staged at the Toyota Stadium with a 15h00 CAT kick-off (13h00 GMT) and will be streamed live on FIFA+. Losing semi-finalists Madagascar and Comoros will clash for the bronze medal before that at the same venue at 12h00 CAT (10h00 GMT). Angola will be aiming for back-to-back titles and their fifth overall, while South Africa will seek to join Zimbabwe on six wins, having last lifted the trophy in 2021. There was history made on Friday as Depu’s two goals for Angola in their 4-1 win over Madagascar made him the all-time leading scorer in the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup with 11 goals. He won the Golden Boot with five goals last year and already has six this season, which is also the joint most goals scored in a single Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup along with Zimbabwe’s Ovidy Karuru in 2017. Angola romped into the final with a handsome win over the Malagasy that underlined their status as tournament favourites. Depu opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 19 minutes. Palancas Negras were then given another opportunity from 12 yards five minutes before halftime and although Depu saw his initial effort saved, he struck home the rebound. That was the way it stayed until the 74th minute, when Keliano’s excellent cross from the right was headed into the net by Zini. Alem added a fourth late on after some excellent quick feet in the Madagascar box, before the islanders grabbed a consolation in injury-time thanks to Mika’s rasping shot from outside the box. South Africa took the lead inside eight minutes in their 3-1 win over Comoros as Kamohelo Sebelebele went on a superb run on the left and beat three defenders, before his attempted cross was deflected in his own net by Comoros defender Idris Mohamed. It was 2-0 on 14 minutes as Gape Moralo set Boitumelo Radiopane through on goal, and the striker beat the goalkeeper with the ball trickling into the net off the post. Comoros pulled a goal back just before the half-hour mark as Ibrahim Madi drilled the ball low past home goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa to give the side a route back into the game. South Africa twice hit the post before halftime but could not add to their score. That was until Comoros got caught trying to play the ball out of defence and having lost possession, Moralo played in Sebelebele to score an easy third. Comoros’ cause was not helped by a red card for Assane with a little over 10 minutes remaining. – cosafa.com The post Angola, SA clash in Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup final  appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #Angola #SouthAfrica #Football #SoccerFinal

Warriors exit Cosafa Cup Despite a 3-0 victory against Lesotho on Tuesday evening, the Brave Warriors bowed out of the Cosafa Cup tournament after being pipped to the post by their nemesis, Angola. Their progress to the semi-finals was out of their hands following two draws against Angola and Malawi. Only an Angola defeat against Malawi would see them through, but Angola grabbed the group B qualifying spot after beating Malawi 1-0 in their final match. Against Lesotho, Sisqo Haraseb gave Namibia an early lead with a pinpoint header from a corner, but Lesotho matched them throughout until the final 10 minutes when Namibia won two penalties which Betuel Muzeu and Joslin Kamatuka put away. In the end, though, it was immaterial as a Randy Nteka goal gave Angola the win against Malawi which put them top of group B on seven points, while Namibia finished second on five, followed by Lesotho (3) and Malawi (1). Although Namibia have been eliminated, a number of new players have now gained international experience, as coach Collin Benjamin continues to build depth in the national squad. Five players made their debuts for Namibia, including Haraseb (24), Wise Lifasi (23) and Vevengapi Mbuende (19), as they blended in with several other experienced stalwarts like the impressive centre back Charles Hambira, who won his 51st cap against Lesotho, Ivan Kamberipa, Awilo Stephanus, Joslin Kamatuka and Betuel Muzeu. At the post-match press conference, Benjamin said he was grateful he could use the opportunity to bring new players into the squad. “I am particularly proud that we could give debuts to these players so that we can widen the pool of players that you can choose from in Namibia. “We gave a debut to a 19-year-old that played today. It’s the first time that he played at this level, and you could see that the level of athleticism and the intensity of the games are much higher than what they are used to at home. “You need to be an athlete to be able to compete at this level, so hopefully the players will learn these lessons and just keep on improving.” Benjamin said there were promising signs from the new caps. “We had good opponents in these three matches and there’s definitely a growth that happened in terms of player development. If I look at a player like Sergio Damasep, who played in the defensive midfield role for the first time now, and the power, the strength that he showed, that is really commendable. “Sisqo Haraseb, who we’re trying to get into the fold, was solid, but we need to see what is the next step for him. Against the ball, he’s doing it good, but now it’s with the ball and those spaces. Those are the things that we’re taking away from this tournament and that we want to take with into the competitive fields waiting for us in September.” Benjamin said despite the defeats there are important lessons to be learnt. “We all want to win because through winning, the players grow in confidence, but at the same time we know that through defeats that’s also when you take the hardest lessons. We take these three games as lessons, and we’re going to analyse them properly, see individually what is it that we did good, and then minimise the mistakes we made. I can tell you for a fact that even in today’s game, I think we could have held the ball better,” he said. The Brave Warriors attention will now turn to the FIFA World Cup qualifiers coming up in September, where Namibia is currently lying second in the CAF group H. With four matches remaining, Tunisia lead the group on 16 points, while Namibia are second, four points behind. When asked about the World Cup, Benjamin called on the players to work hard. “I think we’re allowed to dream. It’s for free, but the work that we have to put in, that is the reflection and the message you want to get to the players. It’s not only when you’re on national duty that you do the work. The work is done before. Those are the lessons you want to take away from this tournament.” The post Warriors exit Cosafa Cup appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #BraveWarriors #Namibia #Angola #Lesotho

Semifinal line-up complete at Cosafa Cup  Defending champions Angola will meet Madagascar and hosts South Africa will face Comoros after the semi-final line-up was completed at the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup with the final matches in Groups C and D in Manguang | Bloemfontein on Wednesday. The semifinals will take place on Friday, with Angola and Madagascar locking horns at 15h00 CAT (13h00 GMT) and South Africa clashing with Comoros at 18h00 CAT (16h00). Both games are at the Toyota Stadium. Botswana were within minutes of taking top spot in Group D, but a penalty from Joseph Phiri for Zambia earned a 3-3 draw for Chipolopolo and denied the Zebras a semifinal place, much to the delight of Comoros. Botswana raced into a 2-0 lead as goals from Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Serati Semadi (penalty) put them in the driving seat, before Zambia roared back top level the game at 2-2. Charles Zulu converted a penalty and Tinklar Sakala added a second early in the second half. It was anybody’s game after that, but Botswana looked to have booked their semifinal place thanks to Thabo Maponda’s goal on the hour-mark. But when they conceded a penalty in injury-time, Phiri converted to dash their semifinal dreams. Eswatini missed out on top spot in Group C as they were defeated 2-1 by East African guest nation Tanzania, a result that meant Madagascar advance to the semifinals. Eswatini lead through Andy Magagula just before the half-hour mark, but they could not hold on for the win. Iddy Nado equalised for Tanzania and Shekhani Khamis found a winner for them in the second half. – cosafa.com  The post Semifinal line-up complete at Cosafa Cup  appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #Soccer #Football #Angola #Madagascar

SA, Angola book semi spots  South Africa and defending champions Angola have booked their semi-final places at the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025 after a bumper four matches were played in Mangaung | Bloemfontein on Tuesday. South Africa’s nervy 0-0 draw with Mauritius was enough to see them top Group A, with a helping hand from Zimbabwe, while Angola defeated Malawi to finish top of Group B. South Africa now await the winner of Group D in the last-4, while Angola will clash with the top side in Group C. Both those pools will be completed on Wednesday. South Africa advanced to the semi-finals after they topped their pool on goal- difference. They had Zimbabwe to thank for their qualification after the latter defeated Mozambique 3-1 in the other match in Group A. It meant three teams finished on four points. Mozambique defeated South Africa 1-0 in their opener, South Africa beat Zimbabwe 2-0 and Zimbabwe beat Mozambique 3-1. SA have a +1 goal-difference, Zimbabwe +0 and Mozambique -1, and that was the difference in the end. Truth be told it was the Mauritians who had the better chances. They came with a strong squad with players plying their trade across Europe’s lower leagues. They played to a third consecutive 0-0 draw in the competition but might well have won all three with better finishing. Zimbabwe found their groove as they beat Mozambique thanks to two first half goals from Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and a late strike via Junior Makunike. Mozambique, who had gone into the final round of pool games on top of the table, scored a consolation via Leonel Calsao. Angola defeated Malawi thanks to Randy Nteka’s goal three minutes into the second half. There was not much to choose between the sides, but that was the decisive moment. Goals from Sisqo Haraseb, Bethuel Muzeu and Joslin Kamatuka (penalty) gave Namibia a 3-0 win over Lesotho as they finished second in Group B. The final games in Group C and Group D will be played on Wednesday, when the semifinal line-up will be complete. Eswatini face already eliminated Tanzania at the Toyota Stadium in a Group C clash (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT), needing a win to overhaul Madagascar at the top of the table. A 1-0 victory would leave them level on points, goal-difference and goals-scored with the Malagasy and bring it down to Fair Play points. Any other type of win will send them through, while a draw or defeat and they are out. It is the same scenario in Group D, where Botswana take on Zambia at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT). Zambia are already eliminated, while a 1-0 win for Botswana leaves them level on points, goal-difference and goals-scored with Comoros and brings it down to Fair Play points. Any other type of win and they are through, any other result and Comoros will advance. All games will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow the tournament at the dedicated Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025 page. – cosafa.com  The post SA, Angola book semi spots  appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #SouthAfrica #Angola #Football #Soccer

Tough test for Brave Warriors against Lesotho  Brave Warriors mentor Collin Benjamin has a mammoth task today against Lesotho in what is expected to be a titanic battle between the two countries in the ongoing Cosafa Cup showdown. Namibia’s Brave Warriors have amassed two points from their group B encounters against Angola last Thursday (1-1) and Sunday’s clash against Malawi in which they played to a goalless draw. Benjamin needs to pull a convincing will against Lesotho, who are second in group B on three points, while Namibia is seated third on a mere two points. With only one team expected to progress beyond the group stages, Angola are in a favourable position to make it through the group stages, but can Benjamin’s charges pull out one of their most convincing displays of talent ever and pray Angola loses to Malawi to put Namibia in pole position for progression in the tournament? Reflecting on the game against Malawi on Sunday, Benjamin said: “I thought we would pick up more points in today’s match, but the Malawian team put up a good fight and they were aggressive in the in-fights. They forced us to play long balls, and that gave us problems. “We had a few chances but failed to capitalise. The end result is a true reflection of the match we have to pick up and return to the drawing board. “As it stands, the group remains wide open, every team still stands a chance and we want to advance, so going into our next game this will be the mind set and approach,” he said. The match expected to yield fireworks at the Dr Peter Stadium for their final group fixture. It will test Namibia’s character to see if they have the depth to take on the challenge head-on by progressing beyond the group stages. Leading to the actual kick-off of the Cosafa Cup tournament, Benjamin is on record having said that this year event is for the Brave Warriors to lift the coveted trophy, which they last won in 2015 through the mentorship of former coach Ricardo Mannetti. Former Brave Warriors midfield maestro Johannes ‘Congo’ Hindjou admitted it will be a tough encounter against Lesotho today. He said for Namibia to make it through to the semi-final stages, they must beat Lesotho convincingly, and hope for Malawi to beat Angola. Hindjou said for Namibia to truly make it through, the young lads must dig deeper and get the convincing win against Lesotho. “Lesotho does not have a good history against Namibia. All that is needed is for us to create the needed chances and capitalize on by finding the back of the net,” he said. The post Tough test for Brave Warriors against Lesotho  appeared first on The Namibian.

#BraveWarriors #Lesotho #CosafaCup #Namibia #Football

Stalemates in Mangaung see Tanzania, Zambia eliminated Madagascar and Eswatini played to a 1-1 draw in their Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup Group C clash at the Petrus Molemela Stadium on Monday, while Comoros and Botswana could not be separated at 0-0 in Group D. They are a pair of results that see East Africa guest nation Tanzania and record seven-time Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup Zambia eliminated from contention for the semi-finals in Bloemfontein | Mangaung. After the Malagasy defeated Tanzania in their opener, the point gained against Eswatini means the Taifa Stars can’t overhaul them at the top of the table. But Eswatini will be able to do so when they face Tanzania on Wednesday. Madagascar took the lead in their clash through Lailana in the first half, but Eswatini hit back via Andy Magagula just past the hour mark. Comoros and Botswana played to a 0-0 draw in the second game in the three-team Group D, which has eliminated Zambia. That is because Comoros have four points from their two games, and Zambia (0 points) only have a single fixture left against Botswana, who could yet reach the last-4 with a win. It will be a bumper set of fixtures on Tuesday when four matches are played, with both Groups A and B concluded and the semi-finalists revealed from those pools. Mozambique need a win against Zimbabwe at the Toyota Stadium (kick-off 15h00 CAT / 13h00 GMT) to be assured of top spot in Group A, though all four teams remain in contention for a semifinal place. The Mambas head the pool with four points, followed by South Africa (3), Mauritius (2) and Zimbabwe (1). There are various scenarios that could even see Zimbabwe into the next stage, if they get a win against Mozambique, and South Africa and Mauritius draw at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium (kick-off 15h00 CAT / 13h00 GMT). Zimbabwe have not lost to Mozambique (W3 D2) in their five previous Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup clashes. South Africa lead the head-to-head against Mauritius 3-1. It is the exact same scenario in Group B, where Angola head the table with four points, followed by Lesotho (3), Namibia (2) and Malawi (1). Angola face Malawi at the Toyota Stadium (kick-off 18h00; 16h00 GMT) and victory will guarantee top spot. Anything else and it brings the other teams into play. Namibia taking on Lesotho at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium (kick-off 18h00; 16h00 GMT) with both knowing that victory is imperative. Angola have clashed seven times before with Malawi in the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup and there have been two wins each to go with three draws.  Namibia lead Lesotho 2-1 in the head-to-head with two draws. All games will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow the tournament at the dedicated Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025 page. – Cosafa.com The post Stalemates in Mangaung see Tanzania, Zambia eliminated appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #FootballResults #Tanzania #Zambia #Madagascar

Lesotho clash decides Namibia’s Cosafa fate Erasmus Shalihaxwe Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin says group B of the Cosafa Cup is still wide open, and his team will do everything to secure maximum points against Lesotho to move to the next round of the tournament. Benjamin spoke on Sunday evening after Namibia’s 0-0 draw with Malawi.  It was the team’s second draw at the tournament. Namibia now sits in third place with two points, behind Lesotho with three points and Angola with four.  Malawi is last with one point. Only a win against Lesotho will guarantee Namibia a spot in the next round. “I thought we would get the job done and collect three points against Malawi, but it did not happen. Now we have to focus on the game against Lesotho,” said Benjamin. “Malawi played well; they were aggressive, and they gave us problems. In the end, we shared the spoils, but we also had about two chances that we didn’t capitalise on. So I would say a draw is a true reflection of the game. We have to pick up and take what we have. We will try to redeem ourselves in the game against Lesotho and get three points. I think the group is still wide and open,” he said. Benjamin said the team lacked aggression against Malawi.  He said the match served as a learning curve, especially since the team is in transition and many players are making their first international appearance. “I would say that it is a good lesson that the players know they were not aggressive enough against the ball; they were not aggressive enough in these fights. And then on one side, you know that you have a young team and you are in a competition; you have to integrate these young players. And it is only through games like this that they can learn and know that at an international level, you need to be an athlete, you need to be physical, and you need to win your battles and attack with a good balance,” he said.

#CosafaCup #Namibia #Lesotho #BraveWarriors #Football

Namibia Held to Goalless Draw By Malawi [New Era] Namibia were held to a 0-0 draw by Malawi in their second Group B encounter at the 2024 Cosafa Cup in South Africa yesterday.

#Namibia #Malawi #CosafaCup #Soccer #Football

SA, Madagascar get wins Hosts South Africa and Madagascar produced victories on match day four of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup staged at the Toyota Stadium in Manguang | Bloemfontein on Saturday. South Africa kept their semifinal hopes alive with a 2-0 Group A victory over Zimbabwe, the first time they have defeated their old foes in the competition. Kabelo Dlamini converted a first half penalty, while Ime Okon headed in a second goal near the end to make sure of the points. South Africa wasted numerous other opportunities to score but will be pleased with the win and the clean sheet. Mozambique and Mauritius played to a 0-0 draw in the other game in Group B, with The Mambas dominating the chances with their 13 attempts at goal compared to just five for the islanders. But it was another solid display from Mauritius following their 0-0 draw in their opener against Zimbabwe that leaves them still in contention for a semifinal place going into the final round of fixtures. Mauritius will be without defender Jean Pascal Colin for their final pool game against South Africa on Tuesday after he received two yellow cards and was sent off in the closing minutes against Mozambique. Mozambique head the Group A table with four points from two games ahead of their final fixture against Zimbabwe, followed by South Africa (3 points), Mauritius (2) and Zimbabwe (1). All teams remain in contention for the semifinals. Madagascar opened the three-team Group C with a 1-0 win over East African guest nation Tanzania in the final game on Saturday.The only goal of the match came on 29 minutes and was scored by Toky Rakotondraibe, who fired low into the back of the net. Tanzania are now on the back foot in the pool and must beat Eswatini in their next game, and hope the latter defeat the Malagasy to stand a chance of reaching the semifinals. The action continues on Sunday with two more games in Group B. Angola continue the defence of their title when they face Lesotho at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium (12h00 CAT / 10h00 GMT). Angola were held 1-1 by Namibia in their opening game, while Lesotho defeated Malawi 1-0. Another victory for Lesotho will see Palancas Negras eliminated, so the minimum they need is a draw. Angola have met Lesotho more than any other team in the competition, with this being their ninth clash. Angola lead the head-to-head 5-2 with one draw from the previous eight games. Namibia take on Malawi at 15h00 CAT (13h00 GMT) in a battle between two sides who need a win. Malawi certainly cannot afford to drop more points with only the top team in each pool advancing to the semifinals. Namibia and Malawi have clashed in six previous occasions in the tournament with the Namibians 3-1 ahead to go with two draws. – cosafa.com  The post SA, Madagascar get wins appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #SouthAfrica #Madagascar #Football #Soccer

Alineaciones del Tanzania 🇹🇿 vs Madagascar 🇲🇬 || #COSAFACUP

Namibia held by Angola, Lesotho win  Defending champions Angola got their Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup campaign off to a steady campaign with a 1-1 draw with Namibia in their Group B clash at the Toyota Stadium in Mangaung | Bloemfontein on Thursday. Last year’s Golden Boot recipient Depu netted what he thought would be the winner from the penalty-spot on 90 minutes after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) confirmed the award of the spot-kick for a foul late in the game. Depu is now Angola’s all-time leading scorer in the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup Cup with six goals. But Namibia would not be denied a point and Ivan Kamberipa rose high to head into the back of the net seven minutes into injury-time at the end of the game to rescue a point for his side. The draw may be a good point for Palancas Negras in the end after they were reduced to 10 men following a red card for Randy Nteka just past the hour-mark. It was another decision confirmed by the VAR. It is the latest battle between these two sides after they played to a 0-0 draw in their opening pool game last year, before Angola beat Namibia 5-0 in last year’s decider. Lesotho got their campaign off to a fantastic start with a 1-0 victory over Malawi. It was a tight contest between the teams with few chances at either end, but the winning goal came seven minutes from the end with a fine finish. Makara Ntaitsane latched onto a flicked-on long ball and took a touch before firing the ball into the roof of the net. There was a VAR check for offside, but the goal was awarded, sparking jubilant scenes on the Lesotho bench. Malawi and Lesotho have been involved in six matches with Lesotho now leading the head-to-head record 3-2. There is just a single game in the three-team Group D on Friday when Zambia tackle Comoros at 18h00 CAT (16h00 GMT). Zambia are seven-time champions of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup Cup but lost all three group games last year in a shock failure. Comoros, on the other hand, had their best finish as they ended fourth after a first ever appearance in the semifinals. It is the second year in a row they meet in the group stages, with Comoros claiming a 1-0 victory in 2024. All games will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow the tournament at the dedicated Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025 page. – cosafa.com  The post Namibia held by Angola, Lesotho win  appeared first on The Namibian.

#Namibia #Angola #CosafaCup #Football #Soccer

Namibia face old rivals Angola  Namibia’s Brave Warriors open their account in the Cosafa Cup in Mangaung against Angola today, in a repeat of last year’s final and still in search of a first-ever victory against their perennial rivals.  Since Namibia’s independence 35 years ago, the two nations have met 15 times, with Angola winning nine times and six matches ending in a draw. At last year’s Cosafa Cup tournament in Gqeberha, they played to a goalless draw during the group stages, but when they met again in the final, Angola posted a comprehensive 5-0 victory. This was the biggest win in a Cosafa Cup final, and it was also Angola’s biggest win against Namibia, surpassing their 3-0 victory at the Africa Cup of Nations in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, in January last year. This time, coach Collin Benjamin has assembled quite an inexperienced squad, with only four players having more than 30 caps for Namibia. Striker Joslin Kamatuka has 31 caps, while defenders Charles Hambira and Ivan Kamberipa have 48 and 43 caps respectively. Veteran midfielder Willy ‘Awilo’ Stephanus is the most experienced of the lot, with 65 caps, which puts him joint eighth on the all-time list alongside his brother Silvester ‘Lolo’ Goraseb and Larry Horaeb. Besides them, striker Bethuel Muzeu has 27 caps, but most of the players have less than 20 caps. Most of the players are also not in the first-choice Brave Warriors squad that is competing in the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but Benjamin said the young players are keen to make their mark.  “We’ve got young players who are hungry and want to show what they’ve got. I can speak for the players when I say that we are all looking forward to the match,” he said. Namibia will also compete against Malawi and Lesotho in Group B, with only the winning team progressing to the semifinals and Benjamin expressed satisfaction with their group. “I have to say that I’m happy that we’re in this group. Firstly, it’s a good group with strong teams, and we will have three guaranteed matches against Angola, Malawi, and Lesotho. Our target is obviously to make it past three matches because we have a relatively inexperienced team that we want to integrate, especially during this transitional period. The more games they play, the better it is for us. It’s also good preparation, but at the same time, we also have to get the results,” he said. “Angola normally come with a 4-3-3 formation. They’ve got good midfielders and they’re usually possession-based. They want to have the ball and overload a lot on the wings. If the winger has the ball, there’s always a wide defender joining to create a two-against-one situation,” he explained. Benjamin said they are well-prepared for the match.  “Our preparation has been good, including modeling their playing style and figuring out how we can contain them, as well as what we will do when we have the ball. Of course, we will always look to move into the offensive third with quick passes and hopefully get behind their defence. “A lot of our preparation was based on that. We’re looking forward to the match; it’s not going to be an easy one, but we know that we are in a good place,” he said. The post Namibia face old rivals Angola  appeared first on The Namibian.

#Namibia #Angola #CosafaCup #BraveWarriors #AfricaFootball

Mozambique upset SA, Mauritius hold Zimbabwe  Mozambique were the biggest winners on day one of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025 as they defeated hosts South Africa, while Mauritius held Zimbabwe to a 0-0 draw at the Toyota Stadium on Wednesday. Mozambique put in a superb second half display as they defeated hosts South Africa 1-0 thanks to a winner by Antonio Sumbane. Sumbane turned the ball into the net at the back post after South African failed to clear a delivery across the six-yard box, earning his side a precious three points and top spot after round one in Group A. Mozambique also had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half, while South Africa missed several chances to earn at least a point. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has been introduced from game one for the first time in this year’s competition, the first time on the African continent for a regional competition. Mauritius held Zimbabwe to a goalless draw in the second game of the day and might count themselves unfortunate after VAR ruled out a goal for a handball. Mauritius put in an excellent display that will have surprised the six-time champions Zimbabwe, and were good value for their point. The action continues on Thursday when the opening two matches in Group B are played at the same venue. Malawi take on Lesotho at 15h00 CAT (13h00 GMT), while defending champions Angola face Namibia at 18h00 CAT (16h00 GMT). – cosafa.com  The post Mozambique upset SA, Mauritius hold Zimbabwe  appeared first on The Namibian.

#Mozambique #CosafaCup #Football #SouthAfrica #Mauritius

Bafana rue missed chances in Cosafa Cup opener  Bafana Bafana’s Cosafa Cup Cup journey began in frustrating fashion as a dominant but wasteful performance saw them fall 1-0 to Mozambique at the Toyota Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Despite dictating the tempo for large spells of the match, South Africa failed to make their control count on the scoreboard. The youthful side, led by Kaizer Chiefs defender Aden McCarthy as captain, created several clear-cut chances but were ultimately punished for their profligacy. The early momentum belonged to Vela Khumalo’s charges, who came close to opening the scoring in the first half. Victor Letsoalo rattled the crossbar from close range, and Kabelo Dlamini couldn’t capitalize on the rebound as Mozambique survived a scare. South Africa’s keeper Thakasani Mbanjwa was also alert, making a key save early on to deny the visitors. The first half ended with Bafana on top but still searching for the breakthrough their play deserved. That lack of cutting edge proved costly after the break. Mozambique had a goal disallowed by VAR ten minutes into the second half following a deflection off Puso Dithejane, and while Bafana breathed a sigh of relief, it was a warning shot. Eventually, Mozambique broke the deadlock in the 3rd minute. Mbanjwa did well to save the initial shot from Keyns Abdala, but the rebound fell kindly to Antonio Sumbane, who slotted home the winner, this time contirmed by VAR. There was more drama late on as Bafana were awarded a penalty with just seven minutes to go. But atter a VAR review, the referee reversed the decision, extinguishing South Africa’s hopes of a dramatic equaliser. Khumalo’s side pushed forward desperately in the closing moments, but Mozambique’s defence held firm to seal the win. It was a tale of fine margins and missed chances for Bafana who will need to be more clinical when they face Zimbabwe in their next Group A clash on Saturday.  The post Bafana rue missed chances in Cosafa Cup opener  appeared first on The Namibian.

#BafanaBafana #CosafaCup #soccer #football #SouthAfrica

Cosafa Cup gets underway  The 2025 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup kicks off today in Mangaung, South Africa, where 14 teams will compete for the prestigious trophy.  Since its inception in 1997, the competition has grown into one of the leading football tournaments on the African continent and despite not taking place a few times, it has stood the test of time, with the tournament being held for the 24th time this year. Zambia claimed the inaugural title in 1997, defeating Namibia in the final, and retained the championship the following year after winning a round-robin tournament. Over the years, they have gone on to win five additional titles, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history.  They are followed closely by Zimbabwe, with six titles; South Africa (SA) and Angola with five and four titles, respectively; and Namibia, with one title. Today’s opening match features Zimbabwe facing Mauritius at 15h00, followed by hosts SA taking on Mozambique at 18h00.  Zimbabwe and SA will be the favourites in this group, and they both should start off with a win, although Mozambique could be the dark horses. Only the group winners will qualify for the semifinals, with the result that Saturday’s showdown between SA and Zimbabwe will be crucial. Namibia will kick off their campaign tomorrow at 18h00 against Angola, a repeat of last year’s final, which Angola won 5-0, and Namibia will be keen to avenge that loss. That could also be a crucial encounter in the group as the winner will be favoured to reach the semifinals, since Lesotho and Malawi do not have very good records in the competition. Neither side has won the trophy before, while Malawi were the runners-up twice and Lesotho once. Groups C and D consist of three teams each, with Madagascar, Eswatini and guest nation Tanzania in group C, and Zambia, Botswana and Comoros in group D.  Zambia, with their rich history in the tournament, will be heavy favourites to win group D, but group C is wide open, with none of the teams having reached the final before. The Namibian squad, meanwhile, departed for South Africa on Monday after completing a four-day training camp in Windhoek.  Coach Collin Benjamin also announced the final 21-man squad, which is as follows: Goalkeepers: Edward Maova, Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Jonas Mateus.  Defenders: Ivan Kamberipa, Sergio Damaseb, Charles Hambira, Sisqo Haraseb, Vevangapi Mbuende, David Haingwafa, Ngero Katua, Tyrese Hikupembe, Kennedy Eib.  Midfielders: Mbakondja Tjahikika, Moses Shidolo, Awilo Stephanus, Paulus Amutenya, Leevi Altheus, Penda Mongudhi.  Forwards: Bio Gurirab, Bethuel Muzeu, Rewaldo Prins, Wiseman Lifasi, Joslin Kamatuka. The post Cosafa Cup gets underway  appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #Football #Africa #Sports #Tournament

Tanzania to replace Morocco at Cosafa Cup  Morocco have withdrawn from the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025 and will be replaced in the 14-team field by East Africa guest nation Tanzania for the June 4-15 tournament to be staged in Mangaung | Bloemfontein. Tanzania will take Morocco’s place in the three-team Group C, which has necessitated a tweak to the fixtures. Tanzania will open their campaign on June 7 against Madagascar at the Toyota Stadium (kick-off 18h00 local time / 16h00 GMT). They will then face Eswatini in their second pool game on June 11 at the same venue (kick-off 15h00 local time /13h00 GMT). The Tanzanians will see the competition as vital preparation for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship finals they co-host with Kenya and Uganda in August. Like all the competing teams, they will also use the opportunity to build towards the last two rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September, and the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco that kick off at the end of the year. Tanzania are no strangers to the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup having competed three times before, including in the inaugural year in 1997. They finished fourth on that occasion in what was a round-robin competition, drawing three of their four games. Tanzania returned in 2015 but did not make it out of their pool, losing all three fixtures. They were back two years later, and this time took the bronze medal, knockout hosts South Africa out in the quarterfinals. They lost 4-2 to Zambia in the semifinals, but edged Lesotho on penalties to finish third. Tanzania qualified for the Afcon finals in both 2019 and 2023, having also featured all the way back in 1980. – Cosafa.com The post Tanzania to replace Morocco at Cosafa Cup  appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #Tanzania #Morocco #AfricanFootball #CAF

Namibia's Journey Through Cosafa Cup Glory and Challenges - FootBoom Namibia's Journey Through Cosafa Cup Glory and Challenges  FootBoom

#Namibia #CosafaCup #Soccer #Football #SportsNews

Namibia’s history at Cosafa Cup - The Namibian - Namibia’s history at Cosafa Cup  The Namibian -

#Namibia #CosafaCup #Football #SportsHistory #AfricanFootball

Namibia’s history at Cosafa Cup  Namibian football has largely remained competitive in the last few decades, from the heady heights attained in 1997 and 1999 when they were Cosafa Cup runners-up, and in 1998 and 2008 when they shocked African football by reaching the African Nations Cup finals. They finally did win the regional crown in 2015 as coach Ricardo Mannetti’s side made a thrilling run to the final were worthy winners. They played six games in all, building momentum along the way before being crowned champions after beating Mozambique 2-0 in the final. They had hoped to win back-to-back titles in 2016, but lost in the quarterfinals to Botswana on penalties after a 1-1 draw. They did, however, go on to claim the Plate competition as they defeated Zambia 1-0 in the final. The Brave Warriors reached the Plate final again the following year but this time lost 1-0 to South Africa, and then were beaten heavily 4-1 by the same opposition in the Plate semifinals in 2018. They started in the group stages in 2019, but could not advance to the quarterfinals despite winning two of their three pool games, which is usually enough. In 2022 they entered in the quarterfinals and reached the decider again, but lost 1-0 to Zambia after extra-time. In 2023 went out in the pool stages, but were back in the final in 2024, where they lost 5-0 to Angola. In 2008, Namibia broke a run of seven first round exits in the Cosafa Cup – when they lost to Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Eswatini, Angola and Botswana three times – as they progressed to the quarterfinals before losing out to a South African President’s XI. They also managed to claim their first away win in the competition in 2007 when they beat Lesotho to third place in the group stages in Gaborone. They followed that up in 2008 with away wins against the Comoros Islands and Malawi. The Brave Warriors were the surprise package of the 1997 edition, finishing second to winners Zambia and in 1998 caused a major upset by knocking out World Cup finalists South Africa at the preliminary round stage. In 1999, they were again in the final, and narrowly lost to Angola in extra-time in the second leg in Windhoek. – Cosafa.com  The post Namibia’s history at Cosafa Cup  appeared first on The Namibian.

#Namibia #CosafaCup #AfricanFootball #BraveWarriors #FootballHistory

Brave Warriors Going for Gold [Namibian] Brave Warriors coach Collin Benjamin has welcomed the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup draw, saying that Namibia will be going all out to win the title this year.

#BraveWarriors #Namibia #CosafaCup #Football #Soccer

Collin Benjamin: Namibia coach explains COSAFA Cup selection - Pan-Africa Football Collin Benjamin: Namibia coach explains COSAFA Cup selection  Pan-Africa Football

#Namibia #COSAFA #Football #COSAFAcup #CollinBenjamin

Brave Warriors Going for Gold  Brave Warriors coach Collin Benjamin has welcomed the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup draw, saying that Namibia will be going all out to win the title this year. Namibia were drawn in group B where they will play against the defending champions Angola, Lesotho and Malawi at this year’s tournament in Mangaung, South Africa, from 4 to 15 June. Namibia has been very competitive in the Cosafa Cup in recent years, reaching two of the last three finals, but they lost both, going down 1-0 to Zambia in 2022 and 5-0 to Angola in last year’s final. Benjamin yesterday said they are aiming to win the title this year. “We reached the final twice over the past three years so this time we want to go all the way and win the title. We will just have to work harder and be smarter tactically than in the past,” he said. “I think we have a good draw – the boys will be guaranteed at least three matches and potentially five, so it will provide a good platform for our players to showcase their skills and gain experience,” he said. Hosts South Africa were drawn in group A where they will meet old foes Zimbabwe, as well as last year’s bronze medallists Mozambique, and Mauritius. South Africa are seeking a first trophy since 2021, while six-time winners Zimbabwe have not held the silverware aloft since 2018. Both will consider that too long a wait. North African guest nation Morocco, who were semifinalists at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, are in the three-team group C with Madagascar and Eswatini, while group D contains record seven-time winners Zambia, Comoros and Botswana. The top team in each pool advances to the semifinals, with winner of group A to face the top side in group D, and the leading team in group B up against the top team in group C. The competition will be staged in Mangaung for the first time, with the Free State Stadium, a venue for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium to host matches. The 23 previous editions of the Cosafa Cup have seen some great performances and incredible games that have been written into the folklore of Southern African football, but only five nations can claim to have lifted the coveted trophy, Namibia being the fifth. The competition will be an excellent tune-up for teams before they resume their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualification campaigns in September, giving them the potential for as many as five fixtures. Matches will be broadcast on SABC and SuperSport, and streamed live on Fifa+. – Additional reporting cosafa.com The post Brave Warriors Going for Gold  appeared first on The Namibian.

#BraveWarriors #Namibia #CosafaCup #Football #Sports

Old foes clash at Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025 - The Namibian - Old foes clash at Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025  The Namibian -

#CosafaCup #Football #Soccer #Namibia #SportsNews

Old foes clash at Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025  Hosts South Africa have drawn old foes Zimbabwe in the group stages of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025, while there is also a repeat of last year’s final between Angola and Namibia following the draw that was concluded for the June 4-15 tournament in Mangaung on Wednesday. South Africa and Zimbabwe are in Group A along with last year’s bronze medalists Mozambique and Mauritius. South Africa are seeking a first trophy since 2021, while six-time winners Zimbabwe have not held the silverware aloft since 2018. Both will consider that too long a wait. Defending champions Angola have been drawn with Namibia in Group B, having twice played the Brave Warriors in the 2024 edition. Their pool stage game ended 0-0, but Angola won 5-0 in the final. Malawi and Lesotho are also in their group this year. North African guest nation Morocco, who were semifinalists at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, are in the three-team Group C with Madagascar and Eswatini, while Group D contains record seven-time winners Zambia, Comoros and Botswana. The top team in each pool advances to the semifinals, with winner of Group A to face the top side in Group D, and the leading team in Group B up against the top team in Group C. The competition will be staged in Mangaung for the first time, with the Free State Stadium, a venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium to host matches. The 23 previous editions of the Cosafa Cup have seen some great performances and incredible games that have been written into the folklore of Southern African football, but only five nations can claim to have lifted the coveted trophy, Namibia being the fifth. The competition will be an excellent tune-up for teams before they resume their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualification campaigns in September, giving them the potential for as many as five fixtures. Matches will be broadcast on SABC and SuperSport, and streamed live on FIFA+. The full fixture list will be confirmed shortly. Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025 draw: Group A: South Africa, Mozambique, Mauritius, Zimbabwe Group B: Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Lesotho Group C: Morocco, Madagascar, Eswatini Group D: Zambia, Comoros, Botswana. – cosafa.com  The post Old foes clash at Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025  appeared first on The Namibian.

#CosafaCup #SouthAfrica #Zimbabwe #Angola #Namibia

Morocco to play at Cosafa Cup  The Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2025 will retain last year’s exciting format when it is staged from June 4-15 in Mangaung/Bloemfontein, South Africa, with the group stage draw to be held on Wednesday, May 21 at 11h00 (CAT). The 2022 Fifa World Cup semi-finalists Morocco will make their debut in the competition in an exciting addition to the field, as they join Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Eswatini, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the 14-team regional competition. The draw will be streamed live on Cosafa’s Facebook and YouTube pages. The format will see the teams split into four pools. Groups A and B will have four teams each, and Groups C and D will have three. The competition will be an excellent tune-up for teams before they resume their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualification campaigns in September, giving them the potential for as many as five fixtures. The competition will be staged in Mangaung/Bloemfontein, for the first time, with the Free State Stadium, a venue for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium to host matches. The 23 previous editions of the Cosafa Cup have seen some great performances and incredible games that have been written into the folklore of Southern African football, but only five nations can claim to have lifted the coveted trophy. Angola defeated Namibia 5-0 in the 2024 decider to lift the trophy for the first time in 20 years. They will defend their crown. Zambia top of the list of most titles with seven. That is one more than Zimbabwe, with South Africa (five), Angola (four) and Namibia (one) the only other teams to claim regional glory. Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana and Lesotho have all been finalists twice but ended up on the losing side on both occasions. Guest nation Senegal are the only other national to reach the decider but lost to South Africa in 2021. All matches at this year’s Cosafa Cup will be broadcast live on FIFA+ and there will be coverage across all of Cosafa’s various channels and social media platforms. cosafa.com  The post Morocco to play at Cosafa Cup  appeared first on The Namibian.

#Morocco #CosafaCup #Football #Soccer #FifaWorldCup