COSAFA Women’s Championship draw: South Africa avoid fellow giants Zambia

The draw for Southern Africa’s premier senior women’s football competition, the COSAFA Women’s Championship, took place in South Africa on Wednesday. The tournament will run from February 18 to 1 March in Polokwane, South Africa.

The 11 participating teams were drawn into three groups—two comprising four each and the other three—ensuring no premature collision of traditional giants, South Africa and the defending champions, Zambia.

The HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship is coming to Polokwane from February 18 to March 1, 2026! pic.twitter.com/KH8pyzJIHX

— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) February 4, 2026

Returning after a hiatus last year, the COSAFA Women’s Championship will see record seven-time champions Banyana Banyana competing in Group A alongside 2023 champions Malawi, Angola and Lesotho.

Holders Chipolopolo Queens, who edged South Africa in the 2024 final to win their second-ever title, will start their title defence from Group B comprising neighbours Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Botswana.

Fast-improving Mozambique are the team to watch in Group C that consists of teams that have never won the title namely Madagascar and Namibia.

Format of play

This is the only three-member group. Mauritius, Comoros and Seychelles and Namibia are conspicuously absent from this year’s competition; hence, the imbalance in the numbers in Group C.

Outlining the competition’s playing format via a statement, COSAFA says the overall winner of each group will progress to the semifinal stage alongside with the best runner.

“Because there are three teams in Group C, results against the bottom sides in Groups A and B will be disregarded for the purposes of that calculation,” reads the statement.

Matches will be broadcast live on FIFA+ and COSAFA’s YouTube channel.

COSAFA Women’s Championship offers South Africa, Zambia and Malawi, a platform to fine-tune for their participation in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals scheduled from March 17 to April 3.