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๐…๐ˆ๐๐€๐‹ ๐…๐ˆ๐„๐‹๐ƒ ๐€๐๐ƒ ๐ƒ๐‘๐€๐– ๐ƒ๐€๐“๐„ ๐‘๐„๐•๐„๐€๐‹๐„๐ƒ ๐…๐Ž๐‘ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ ๐‚๐Ž๐’๐€๐…๐€ ๐‚๐”๐ ๐ˆ๐ ๐ƒ๐”๐‘๐๐€๐ | ๐ƒ๐‘๐€๐– ๐๐‘๐Ž๐‚๐„๐ƒ๐”๐‘๐„๐’ | ๐ƒ๐‘๐€๐– ๐ˆ๐๐•๐ˆ๐“๐€๐“๐ˆ๐Ž๐

The much-anticipated draw for the 2022 COSAFA Cup to be staged in Durban next month will take place at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday, June 14. The tournament, which runs from July 5-17, will once again feature last yearโ€™s beaten finalists Senegal as the west African guest nation return to try and turn silver into gold.
You will be able to watch the draw LIVE on www.cosafa.tvfrom 11h00 CAT.
The regional championship will be contested for the 21st time having made its debut in 1997 and will this year feature 13 of the 14 COSAFA nations. Only Zimbabwe will be missing due to their ongoing FIFA suspension.
There will be two phases to the draw. The first sees the eight lowest positioned sides according to the latest FIFA Rankings contesting a first round pool stage. They will be split into two groups with four sides each.
The top teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals, where they join by the six higher ranked sides. The draw for this round will also be completed on Tuesday.
The competition continues in a knockout format after that, with the losing quarterfinalists to play in the Plate tournament.
The seeded teams for the first pool stage are Malawi, Angola, Comoros Islands and Lesotho, while the unseeded sides are Botswana, Eswatini, Mauritius and Seychelles.
They will be drawn one by one in Groups A and B until those are full.
The draw will then switch to the quarterfinals, where the four seeded sides are Senegal, South Africa, Zambia and Madagascar. The other teams that enter at this stage are Namibia and Mozambique, with the final two teams represented by the winners of Groups A and B.
The seeded sides in the quarterfinals cannot play each other in this round, so there will be no repeat of last seasonโ€™s final where South Africa beat Senegal on penalties. The tournament will be excellent preparation for both the African Nations
Championship and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers that will be played over the next few months.
The 20 previous editions of the competition 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.
Zimbabwe (six wins) lead the way, followed by Zambia, South Africa (five each), Angola (three) and Namibia (one).
Mozambique, Malawi and Botswana have all twice been finalists, but ended up on the losing side on both occasions. Lesotho are the only other team to reach the decider.
Durban will host the competition for the second time have been the perfect stage for the 2019 even that was won by Zambia as they defeated Botswana in the decider.
We are excited to be able to welcome fans and the media back for this yearโ€™s competition after they missed out in 2021 due to restrictions caused by the COVID- 19 pandemic.
While that pandemic is still with us, sporting events in South Africa may have supporters attend up to a maximum of 50% of the venue capacity. Fans must also either be fully vaccinated or produce a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours.
FIRST ROUND POOL STAGE DRAW Seeded teams
Malawi
Angola
Comoros Lesotho
Unseeded teams
Botswana Eswatini Mauritius Seychelles red

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Setlhoko Appointed as FIFAย  Womenโ€™s Football Development Expert

FIFA has announced the appointment of Ms. Tsholofelo Setlhoko as a FIFA Womenโ€™s Football Development Expert, joining a global network of qualified professionals dedicated to the growth and development of womenโ€™s football worldwide. This prestigious appointment recognizes Ms. Setlhokoโ€™s exceptional contributions to the sport and her commitment to advancing womenโ€™s football across Botswana and beyond.

Launched in 2020, the FIFA Womenโ€™s Football Development Programmes have been instrumental in strengthening womenโ€™s football through targeted support for Member Associations. With the recent relaunch of the programme in December 2024, FIFA aims to expand its impact across all 211 Member Associations, offering tailored assistance that reflects the unique contexts and needs of each nation.

In her role as a FIFA Womenโ€™s Football Development Expert, Ms. Setlhoko will leverage her vast experience in football administration, strategic planning, and grassroots development to support Member Associations in implementing sustainable growth strategies. Her leadership within the Botswana Football Association (BFA), particularly in spearheading initiatives for womenโ€™s football, has set a benchmark for development and community engagement.

โ€œI am deeply honored to be appointed as a FIFA Womenโ€™s Football Development Expert. This is not only a personal achievement but a victory for womenโ€™s football in Botswana. I look forward to sharing best practices and supporting the growth of womenโ€™s football in other Member Associations,โ€ said Ms. Setlhoko.

The President of the Botswana Football Association, Mr. Tariq Babitseng, also expressed his pride in Ms. Setlhokoโ€™s achievement, stating, โ€œTsholofeloโ€™s appointment is a testament to her dedication and hard work. Her expertise and passion for womenโ€™s football are unmatched, and we are confident that she will make a substantial impact globally.โ€

Ms. Setlhokoโ€™s appointment marks a significant step forward in the representation of African women in global football development. As she embarks on this journey, she remains committed to championing womenโ€™s football and inspiring the next generation of female athletes and administrators.

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