COSAFA Cup


The COSAFA Cup is an annual tournament for teams from Southern Africa organized by Council of [Southern Africa Football Associations], inaugurated after the ban against the Republic of South Africa had been lifted and the African Cup of Nations had been staged there in 1996.

History

The following teams have participated in the tournament in the past: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Additionally, seven non-COSAFA members have competed: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Senegal. Zambia has won the most titles with seven wins, followed by Zimbabwe with six wins. Zambia has been the most prolific side in the competition failing to reach the top 4 only four times since the tournament's inception. The first editions of the competition were a knockout tournament staged over several months. As the competition grew, it transformed into a series of mini-tournaments.
The 2010 COSAFA Senior Challenge was to be the 14th edition of the football tournament that involves teams from Southern Africa. In July 2010 it was confirmed that Angola would host the competition. The 2010 edition of the competition was cancelled in October, 2010. COSAFA stated that the Angolan authorities did not give enough guarantees to host the tournament.

Results

A round-robin tournament determined the final standings.

Teams reaching the top four

TeamWinnersRunners-upThird PlaceFourth PlaceSemi-finalistsTop 4 Finishes
7 6 1 1 4 19
6 3 1 2 12
5 1 2 1 2 11
5 1 1 2 9
1 4 1 6
2 3 2 2 9
2 1 1 4
2 1 2 5
2 1 3 6
1 1 2
2 3 5
1 3 4
1 1 2
1 1 2
1 1

Participating nations

;Legend
  • – Champions
  • – Runners-up
  • – Third place
  • – Fourth place
  • 5th – Fifth place
  • – Semi-finals
  • QF – Quarter-finals
  • GS – Group stage
  • 1R – First round
  • 2R – Second round
  • Q – Qualified
  • — Hosts
  • – Did not enter
  • –– – Withdrew before qualification / Banned
*D.R. Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Senegal are not COSAFA members, but have been invited to participate in the past.

1 Withdrew from tournament.

2 Tournament not played.

Summary (1997–2022)

COSAFA Cup invitees are included in the table with blue.
RankTeamPartMWDLGFGAGDPoints
121633222109348+45117
220593417810049+51113
32055301967729+48109
421592317197662+1486
521611915245970-1175
621532016176557+873
717431815124737+1068
821591620236171-1068
921511517195250+262
1021531415245074-2457
111236148143938+150
12184088242557-3232
1361843111428-1415
14131916271964-459
15293421312+113
163132651015-512
17131111104
181200215-40
191311154+14
20120201102
21000000000

Top scorers

Peter Ndlovu of Zimbabwe and Manuel 'Tico-Tico' Bucuane of Mozambique are all-time top goalscorers in the tournament with ten goals each. In 2021 Felix Badenhorst of Eswatini moved into second position with nine goals.
YearPlayerGoals
1998