The next generation of Southern African football talent takes center stage in Mozambique from September 18–27, when 12 nations contest the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA Qualifier. Regional supremacy and two prized slots at next year’s continental finals in Ghana hang in the balance.
The tournament assembles Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, and Zambia for nine days of intense competition. The sides are split into three groups of four, with only each pool winner and the best runner-up advancing to the semifinals—leaving minimal margin for error in the group phase.
Hosts Mozambique headline Group A alongside Namibia, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Reigning champions South Africa anchor Group B with Angola, Lesotho, and Eswatini. Record 12-time winners Zambia lead Group C against Malawi, Comoros, and Botswana.
Action kicks off at Zimpeto Stadium on Friday, September 18, when Namibia face Mauritius at 12:00 CAT (10:00 GMT). Zambia renew their storied rivalry with Malawi at 15:00 CAT (13:00 GMT), before Mozambique complete the opening day against Seychelles at 18:00 CAT (16:00 GMT). Group B begins the following day at the same venue: South Africa open their title defense against Lesotho at 12:00, followed by Angola versus Eswatini at 15:00 and Comoros versus Botswana in Group C at 18:00.
All matches stream free on FIFA+, COSAFA’s YouTube channel, and CAF TV, with additional coverage on TVM. The group stage runs through September 23, with simultaneous final matchdays ensuring high drama as teams chase the four semifinal berths.
The regional Under-20 championship has long served as a launchpad for Southern Africa’s leading players before they graduate to senior international and club careers. Zambia remain the benchmark with a record 12 regional titles, having claimed the inaugural crown in 1983. South Africa have rapidly closed the gap with 10 titles, while Zimbabwe hold six. Madagascar and Mozambique are the only other nations to have lifted the trophy, once each. Across 30 editions staged through 2025, only those five countries have been crowned champions.
That means just three previous winners—Zambia, South Africa, and Mozambique—feature in the 2026 field, leaving nine nations chasing a first-ever title. South Africa defeated Zambia 2–0 in the 2024 qualifier final in Mozambique to claim their ninth regional crown, with both finalists earning places at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. The South Africans then went a step further on the continental stage, beating Morocco to become African champions, before adding another regional title at the 2025 Region 5 Games in Namibia. Zambia, however, remain the most decorated side in the competition’s history and were last crowned champions in 2022, when they edged Mozambique 1–0 in the final. The hosts also know what it takes to go all the way, having captured their maiden title in 2020 and finished runners-up to Zambia two years later.
The two finalists will secure Southern Africa’s tickets to the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2027, scheduled for February and March next year. Ghana will host the tournament for the second time after previously staging—and winning—the competition in 1999.
That makes the semifinals on Friday, September 25 potentially the tournament’s most decisive matches. The Group B winners meet the Group C winners at ABB 2 at 12:00 CAT (10:00 GMT), before the Group A winners face the best runner-up at the same venue at 18:00 CAT (16:00 GMT). The victors will clinch qualification for Ghana as well as a place in the regional decider.
After a rest day, the competition concludes at ABB 1 on Sunday, September 27. The beaten semifinalists contest the third-place play-off at 11:00 CAT (09:00 GMT), before the new regional champions are crowned in the 14:00 CAT (12:00 GMT) final.
