Wikipedia

2023 COSAFA Women's Championship

The 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship was the eleventh edition of the COSAFA Women's Championship, also known as the 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship for sponsorship purposes, the annual international women's association football championship contested by women's national teams of Southern Africa and organised by COSAFA. The tournament took place from 4 to 15 October 2023 in South Africa.[1][2] The opening match was won by Eswatini, beating Madagascar at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on 4 October 2023 and achieving their first COSAFA Women's Championship victory since 2020.[3]

2023 COSAFA Women's Championship
Tournament details
Host country South Africa
Dates4–15 October
Teams12 (from 1 sub-confederation)
Venue(s)3 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Malawi (1st title)
Runners-up Zambia
Third place Mozambique
Fourth place Zimbabwe
Tournament statistics
Matches played22
Goals scored70 (3.18 per match)
Top scorer(s)Malawi Temwa Chawinga
(9 goals)
Best player(s)Malawi Temwa Chawinga
Best goalkeeperZimbabwe Cynthia Shonga
Fair play award Zambia
← 2022
2024 →

Malawi were crowned 2023 champions[4] after defeating reigning champions Zambia's Copper Queens 2–1 in the final. It was the first time Malawi had won a COSAFA Women's tournament, securing their first major title.[5] Mozambique claimed their first medal at the COSAFA Women's Championship.[6] Malawian player Temwa Chawinga achieved a remarkable double, clinching the Golden Boot with nine goals during the tournament and also claiming the Golden Ball award.[7] Zimbabwe goalkeeper Cynthia Shongwe won the Golden Glove, awarded to the best-performing goalkeeper of the tournament.

Of the twelve teams taking part, Zimbabwe and Madagascar returned to the competition after missing last year's edition.[8] 2011 Champions Zimbabwe advanced to the semi-finals for the first time since 2019. Host and seven times champion South Africa were eliminated in the group stage after they failed to beat Malawi, the first time the team had not made the semi-finals at the tournament.[9]

Format

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In September 2023, during the draw ceremony, the competition format was revealed. The tournament commences with a group stage comprising three groups, each consisting of four teams. The group winners, along with the highest-ranked second-placed team, advance to the knockout stage. The winners of each semifinal proceed to the final, while the losing teams face off in a third-place match to determine the bronze medalist.

Venues

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COSAFA has selected three venues within the province of Gauteng, two cities were selected Pretoria and Johannesburg, one stadium in Pretoria and two stadiums in Johannesburg.

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria will host the opening match between South Africa and Malawi. The same stadium will host the third-place match and the final on 15 October.

Pretoria Johannesburg
Lucas Moripe Stadium Dobsonville Stadium UJ Stadium
Capacity: 28,900 Capacity: 24,000 Capacity: 8,000

Teams

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Participation

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Twelve member associations of COSAFA have confirmed their participation in this year's edition. Out of the 12 taking part in this year's edition, 10 countries competed at the previous tournament in 2022. Zimbabwe made a comeback after being absent from last year's edition. while Madagascar whose team had been inactive since 2019, is returning to the international stage.[10]

Note: All appearance statistics exclude the 2008 edition.

Team App Last
appearance 		Previous best performance
  Angola[11] 6th 2022 Group stage (2006, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
  Botswana[12] 9th 2022 Runners-up (2020)
  Comoros[13] 4th 2022 Group stage (2019, 2020, 2022)
  Eswatini[14] 9th 2022 Group stage (2002, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
  Lesotho[15] 8th 2022 Group stage (2002, 2006, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022)
  Madagascar[16] 4th 2019 Group stage (2017, 2018, 2019)
  Malawi[17] 10th 2022 Runners-up (2021)
  Mozambique[18] 9th 2022 Fourth place (2002)
  Namibia[19] 7th 2022 Runners-up (2006)
  South Africa[20] 10th 2022 Champions (2002, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
  Zambia[21] 10th 2022 Champions (2022)
  Zimbabwe[22] 9th 2021 Champions (2011)
Did not enter

Squads

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Main article: 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship squads

Draw

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The final draw took place at the COSAFA Headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 14 September 2023 at 11:00 SAST (UTC+2).[23]

In this edition, three teams were seeded based on their performance in the 2022 COSAFA Women's Championship: Zambia (the 2022 Champions, assigned to B1), South Africa (the 2022 Runners-up, assigned to A1), and Namibia (the 2022 Fourth-place team, assigned to C1). Additionally, two pots were formed for the draw. Pot 1 included the next highest-ranked teams, namely Botswana, Malawi, and Mozambique, while Pot 2 comprised the six remaining lowest-ranked teams, which are Angola, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe.

Pot 1 Pot 2
  Botswana
  Malawi
  Mozambique 		  Angola
  Comoros
  Eswatini
  Lesotho
  Madagascar
  Zimbabwe

Officials

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COSAFA's appointed referees and assistant referees have not yet been announced. For the first time in the tournament history Video assistant referees (VAR) will be used from the semi-finals onwards.[24]

Referees
Assistant Referees
  •   Leungo Tsogang
  •   Mary Njoroge
  •   Lidwine Rakotozafinord
  •   Herilalaina Razafitsalama
  •   Bernadettar Kwimbira
  •   Windy Rambhoro
  •   Olinda Couana
  •   Eveline Augustinus
  •   Nandipha Menze
  •   Diana Chikotesha[26]
  •   Mercy Zulu
  •   Claris Simango
Video assistant referees
  •   Ahmad Heeralall
  •   Emiliano dos Santos

Group stage

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All times are local, SAST (UTC+2).

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Malawi 3 3 0 0 15 4 +11 9 Qualified for knockout stage
2   South Africa (H) 3 2 0 1 9 5 +4 6
3   Eswatini 3 1 0 2 2 12 −10 3
4   Madagascar 3 0 0 3 3 8 −5 0
Source: COSAFA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
(H) Hosts
Madagascar  1–2  Eswatini
 Report
Referee: Maria Rivet (Mauritius)
South Africa  3–4  Malawi
 Report
Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia)
Malawi  8–0  Eswatini
 Report
Referee: Grace Gimo (Zimbabwe)
South Africa  3–1  Madagascar
 Report
Referee: Vistoria Shangula (Namibia)
Madagascar  1–3  Malawi
 Report
Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia)
South Africa  3–0  Eswatini
 Report
Referee: Rosalie Rosalie (Madagascar)

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Zambia 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 7 Qualified for knockout stage
2   Mozambique 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7
3   Angola 3 1 0 2 6 4 +2 3
4   Comoros 3 0 0 3 2 13 −11 0
Source: COSAFA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
Angola  5–0  Comoros
 Report
Zambia  0–0  Mozambique
Report
Referee: Eness Gumbo (Malawi)
Zambia  3–1  Angola
 Report
Referee: Nteboheleng Setoko (Lesotho)
Mozambique  3–1  Comoros
 Report
Referee: Rosalie Rosalie (Madagascar)
Zambia  5–1  Comoros
 Report
Referee: Rosa Hanjavola (Madagascar)
Angola  0–1  Mozambique
Report
Referee: Nteboheleng Setoko (Lesotho)

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Zimbabwe 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Qualified for knockout stage
2   Botswana 3 1 2 0 5 2 +3 5
3   Namibia 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
4   Lesotho 3 0 0 3 0 6 −6 0
Source: COSAFA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
Zimbabwe  1–0  Lesotho
 Report
Referee: Seonyatseng Tshephe (Botswana)
Namibia  1–1  Botswana
 Report
Referee: Gloria Sambumba (Zambia)
Namibia  0–2  Zimbabwe
Report
Referee: Letticia Viana (Eswatini)
Namibia  2–0  Lesotho
 Report
Referee: Maria Rivet (Mauritius)

Ranking of runner-up teams

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Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B   Mozambique 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2 A   South Africa 3 2 0 1 9 5 +4 6
3 C   Botswana 3 1 2 0 5 2 +3 5
Source: COSAFA

Knockout stage

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Bracket

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
13 October – Pretoria
 
 
  Zambia1
 
15 October – Pretoria
 
  Zimbabwe0
 
  Zambia1
 
13 October – Pretoria
 
  Malawi2
 
  Malawi2
 
 
  Mozambique1
 
Third Place match
 
 
15 October – Pretoria
 
 
  Zimbabwe0
 
 
  Mozambique2

Semi-finals

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Zambia  1–0  Zimbabwe
 Report
Malawi  2–1  Mozambique
 Report

Third-place match

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Zimbabwe  0–2  Mozambique
Report
Referee: Maria Rivet (Mauritius)

Final

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Zambia  1–2  Malawi
 Report
Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia)

Award

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The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament: the Golden Boot (top scorer), Golden Ball (best overall player) and Golden Glove (best goalkeeper)[27]

Golden Boot
  Temwa Chawinga
9 goals
Golden Ball
  Temwa Chawinga
Golden Glove
  Cynthia Shongwe
COSAFA Fair Play Trophy
  Zambia

Statistics

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Goal scorers

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There were 70 goals scored in 22 matches, for an average of 3.18 goals per match.

9 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Discipline

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A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:

  • Receiving a red card (red card suspensions may be extended for serious offences)
  • Receiving two yellow cards in two matches; yellow cards expire after the completion of the group stage (yellow card suspensions are not carried forward to any other future international matches)

The following suspensions were served during the tournament:

Player Offence(s) Suspension
  Vimbai Mharadzi   in Group C vs Lesotho (matchday 1; 6 October)
  in Group C vs Namibia (matchday 2; 9 October) 		Group C vs Botswana (matchday 3; 12 October)

Final ranking

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Final result
1   Malawi 5 5 0 0 19 6 +13 15 Champions
2   Zambia 5 3 1 1 10 4 +6 10 Runners-up
3   Mozambique 5 3 1 1 7 3 +4 10 Third place
4   Zimbabwe 5 2 1 2 4 4 0 7 Fourth place
5   South Africa 3 2 0 1 9 5 +4 6 Eliminated in
group stage
6   Botswana 3 1 2 0 5 2 +3 5
7   Namibia 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4 Eliminated in
group stage
8   Angola 3 1 0 2 6 4 +2 3
9   Eswatini 3 1 0 2 2 12 −10 3
10   Madagascar 3 0 0 3 3 8 −5 0 Eliminated in
group stage
11   Lesotho 3 0 0 3 0 6 −6 0
12   Comoros 3 0 0 3 2 13 −11 0
Source: COSAFA
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References

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  1. ^ "Cosafa Women's Champs to be hosted in Gauteng". namibian.com.na. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. ^ "2023 COSAFA Women's Championship to be hosted in Gauteng". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Eswatini off to flying start against Madagascar at 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship". kick442.com. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  4. ^ Diamond, Drew (17 October 2023). "COSAFA Cup: Malawi claim historic title with win over Zambia". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Malawi dethrone Zambia to win first Cosafa Women's Cup title". timeslive.co.za. Sithembiso Dindi. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  6. ^ "INÉDITO: MOÇAMBIQUE CONQUISTA BRONZE NO COSAFA FEMININO" [LIVE: MOZAMBIQUE WINS BRONZE IN WOMEN’S COSAFA]. esfericomoz.com (in Portuguese). 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  7. ^ Diamond, Drew (19 October 2023). "COSAFA Champions Malawi to receive zero prize money". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Mighty Warriors drawn in Group C for Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women Championship 2023". chronicle.co.zw. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Banyana beat Eswatini but still bow out of COSAFA Women's Championship". safa.net. South African Football Association. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  10. ^ "NEWSGauteng to Host Cosafa Women's Championship". joburgetc.com. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Angola seek progress at HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women's Championship". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Botswana look to turn silver into gold". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Comoros aim for first win in regional championship". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Eswatini seek first knockout stage qualification". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Lesotho seek first knockout round place". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Madagascar return to HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women's Championship". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Malawi aim to go one better in 2023". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Mozambique aim to build on competitive showing in 2022". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Namibia look to reach elusive final in Gauteng". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  20. ^ "South Africa aim to regain HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women's championship title". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Zambia back to defend regional title amid golden era". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Zimbabwe back to compete in regional championship". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Tough draw for returning Zimbabwe at COSAFA Women's Championship". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  24. ^ "COSAFA to introduce VAR at HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women's Championship". cosafa.com. COSAFA. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  25. ^ Main referee and Video assistant referee
  26. ^ Assistant referee and Video assistant referee
  27. ^ @COSAFAMEDIA (15 October 2023). "individual accolades for the 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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