The COSAFA Cup, officially known as the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup, is an annual international football tournament for Southern African national teams, organised by the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA).

Established in 1997 following the lifting of South Africa’s international sports ban, the tournament aimed to foster regional competition and development in the post-apartheid era.

Initially, the competition featured a knockout format but evolved into a round-robin group stage system to accommodate more teams and enhance competitiveness.

Over the years, the tournament has seen participation from both COSAFA and non-COSAFA nations, including Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Additionally, countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Senegal have also competed as guests.

Zambia holds the record for the most COSAFA Cup titles, with seven championships (1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019, 2022, and 2023), and Zimbabwe follows closely with six titles (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2017, and 2018).

South Africa has won the tournament five times (2002, 2007, 2008, 2016, and 2021), while reigning champions Angola have secured four titles (1999, 2001, 2004, and 2024), and Namibia’s lone championship came in 2015.

Apart from the absence of the tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2012 due to logistical issues, the COSAFA Cup has remained a cornerstone of Southern African football, contributing to the development and exposure of regional talent.

It is notable that nations usually do not field their strongest ‘A’ teams in the COSAFA Cup, but rather select squads which reflect the brightest talents and most exciting young players in their domestic leagues.

Bafana Bafana, as five-time champions, naturally hold an esteemed position in the COSAFA Cup, while South Africa have served as outright hosts no less than nine times (it will become 10 in 2025), including the last seven tournaments in succession.

This year, the COSAFA Cup will be held in Bloemfontein, with matches at the Free State Stadium and the Dr Molemela Stadium, from Wednesday 4 June to Sunday 15 June.

Bafana are in Group A, alongside Mozambique, Mauritius and Zimbabwe. Group B features Angola, Namibia, Malawi and Lesotho, Group C has Eswatini, Madagascar and Tanzania, while Group D comprises Botswana, Comoros and Zambia.

The top team from each group will advance into the semifinals (to be played on 10 June), followed by a third-place playoff and final (on 15 June).