South Africa will look for a fast start in the 2025 COSAFA Cup when they open the tournament with a Group A match against Mozambique at the Free State Stadium on the afternoon of Wednesday 4 June. Kick-off is at 3pm CAT.

Bafana Bafana are five-time champions (2002, 2007, 2008, 2016 and 2021) of the COSAFA Cup, though in 2024 they exited the tournament in the group stage.

This year, men’s U-17 national team coach Vela Khumalo will lead Bafana in the COSAFA Cup, with the squad featuring a mix of rising stars (such as Mduduzi Shabalala, Boitumelo Radiopane and Wandile Duba) and experienced professionals (such as Kwanda Mngonyama and Victor Letsoalo) based in the Betway Premiership.

“We are looking forward to this tournament and we’re playing at home, we’re playing in Bloemfontein, and we cannot compromise the team. This is another Bafana Bafana team and I’m happy, I’m excited. We want to go through, and we want to win [the] COSAFA [Cup],” said Khumalo.

Mozambique have never won the COSAFA Cup (they were runners-up in 2008 and 2015), while last year they finished third: the Mambas were ousted on penalties in the semifinals by Namibia, before overcoming Comoros via the same method in the third-place playoff.

Mozambique warmed up for the start of the COSAFA Cup with a 1-0 friendly win over Eswatini this past weekend, with Black Bulls midfielder Antonia Sumbane scoring the lone goal.

In head-to-head stats, SA and Mozambique have met in 11 matches down the years, with Bafana Bafana claiming seven wins compared to two for the Mambas (plus two draws).

The teams have met six times in the COSAFA Cup – the most recent was in the group stage last year, as SA and Mozambique played out a 1-1 draw after respective goals from Rushwin Dortley and Chamito.