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
Dates	4–15 October
Teams	12 (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 played	22
Goals scored	70 (3.18 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Temwa Chawinga (9 goals)
Best player(s)	Temwa Chawinga
Best goalkeeper	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

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

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

Teams

Participation

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

•  Mauritius
•  Seychelles

Squads

Main article: 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship squads

Draw

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

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

• Seonyatseng Tshephe
• Letticia Viana^[25]
• Nteboheleng Setoko
• Rosa Hanjavola
• Rosalie Rosalie
• Eness Gumbo
• Mercy Kayira
• Maria Rivet
• Antsino Twanyanyukwa
• Vistoria Shangula
• Salima Mukansanga
• Akhona Makalima
• Gloria Sambumba
• Grace Gimo

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

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

Tie-breaking criteria for group play

The ranking of teams in the group stage was determined as follows: Points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question (three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a defeat); Goal difference in the matches played between the teams in question; Number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question; Goal difference in all group matches; Fair play points in all group matches (only one deduction could be applied to a player in a single match): Yellow card: −1 point; Indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points; Direct red card: −4 points; Yellow card and direct red card: −5 points; Drawing of lots.

Group A

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

4 October

12:00

Madagascar	1–2	Eswatini
Raharimalala 28'	Report	Ngcamphalala 46' Magagula 81'

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Maria Rivet (Mauritius)

4 October

15:30

South Africa	3–4	Malawi
T. Shamase 44' Nkuna 79' S. Shamase 90+3'	Report	Chinyamula 27' Te. Chawinga 45+5', 64', 76'

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia)

---

7 October

12:00

Malawi	8–0	Eswatini
Thom 6', 33' Mathyola 45' Kadzere 52' Te. Chawinga 55', 63', 75', 76'	Report

Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Grace Gimo (Zimbabwe)

7 October

15:00

South Africa	3–1	Madagascar
T. Shamase 14' (pen.) Selana 65', 78'	Report	Velomanantsolo 43'

Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Vistoria Shangula (Namibia)

---

10 October

15:30

Madagascar	1–3	Malawi
Randrianarivelo 33' (pen.)	Report	Chikupila 23' Chinyamula 25' Simwaka 35'

UJ Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia)

10 October

15:30

South Africa	3–0	Eswatini
T. Shamase 6', 12', 55'	Report

Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Rosalie Rosalie (Madagascar)

Group B

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

5 October

12:00

Angola	5–0	Comoros
Caupe 4' Luvunga 21' Matuvova 24' Nyoca Nsumbo 31' S. Ali 45+3' (o.g.)	Report

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)

5 October

15:30

Zambia	0–0	Mozambique
	Report

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Eness Gumbo (Malawi)

---

8 October

12:00

Zambia	3–1	Angola
Jere 3', 85' Nkole 20'	Report	Luvunga 90+1'

Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Nteboheleng Setoko (Lesotho)

8 October

15:30

Mozambique	3–1	Comoros
Gove 18', 51' (pen.) Saene 86'	Report	Hadhirami Ali 4'

Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Rosalie Rosalie (Madagascar)

---

10 October

12:00

Zambia	5–1	Comoros
Kabwe 20', 59', 75' Mweemba 60' Jere 87' (pen.)	Report	Mohamed Ahamadi 42'

UJ Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Rosa Hanjavola (Madagascar)

10 October

12:00

Angola	0–1	Mozambique
	Report	Banze 73' (pen.)

Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Nteboheleng Setoko (Lesotho)

Group C

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

6 October

12:00

Zimbabwe	1–0	Lesotho
Mupeti 58'	Report

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Seonyatseng Tshephe (Botswana)

6 October

15:30

Namibia	1–1	Botswana
Hikuam 6'	Report	Mochawe 79'

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Gloria Sambumba (Zambia)

---

9 October

12:00

Botswana	3–0	Lesotho
Gaofetoge 6' Johannes 35' Mochawe 73'	Report

Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)

9 October

15:30

Namibia	0–2	Zimbabwe
	Report	Neshamba 18' Ncube 57'

Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Letticia Viana (Eswatini)

---

11 October

15:30

Zimbabwe	1–1	Botswana
Chemhere 4'	Report	Johannes 86'

Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)

11 October

15:30

Namibia	2–0	Lesotho
Naris 35' Kooper 74'	Report

UJ Stadium, Johannesburg

Referee: Maria Rivet (Mauritius)

Ranking of runner-up teams

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

• In the knockout stage, extra-time and a penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winner if necessary.

Bracket

	Semi-finals				Final
	13 October – Pretoria
	Zambia	1
					15 October – Pretoria
	Zimbabwe	0
					Zambia	1
	13 October – Pretoria
					Malawi	2
	Malawi	2
	Mozambique	1
					Third Place match
					15 October – Pretoria
					Zimbabwe	0
					Mozambique	2

Semi-finals

13 October 2023

12:00

Zambia	1–0	Zimbabwe
Jere 50'	Report

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)

13 October 2023

15:30

Malawi	2–1	Mozambique
Te. Chawinga 77', 80'	Report	Mkandawawire 38' (o.g.)

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)

Third-place match

15 October 2023

12:00

Zimbabwe	0–2	Mozambique
	Report	Moçambique 87' Manuel 90+6'

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Maria Rivet (Mauritius)

Final

15 October 2023

15:30

Zambia	1–2	Malawi
A. Phiri 84'	Report	Simwaka 34' Thom 90+1'

Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria

Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia)

Award

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

Goal scorers

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

9 goals

• Temwa Chawinga

5 goals

• Thubelihle Shamase

4 goals

• Sarah Jere

3 goals

• Sabinah Thom
• Fridah Kabwe

2 goals

• Sara Luvunga
• Balothanyi Johannes
• Kesegofetse Mochawe
• Leticia Chinyamula
• Asimenye Simwaka
• Deolinda Gove
• Samkelisiwe Selana

1 goal

• Zeferina Caupe
• Matondo Matuvova
• Paulina Nyoca Nsumbo
• Lone Gaofetoge
• Anllaouia Hadhirami Ali
• Roukiat Mohamed Ahamadi
• Sikhanyiso Magagula
• Tenanile Ngcamphalala
• Veronique Raharimalala
• Heliosa Randrianarivelo
• Anajrasoa Velomanantsolo
• Vanessa Chikupila
• Rose Kadzere
• Carolyn Mathyola
• Amélia Banze
• Cina Manuel
• Lúcia Moçambique
• Emília Saene
• Millicent Hikuam
• Ivone Kooper
• Emma Naris
• Khesani Nkuna
• Sphumelele Shamase
• Lushomo Mweemba
• Jacqueline Nkole
• Agness Phiri
• Ennety Chemhere
• Priviledge Mupeti
• Nobukhosi Ncube
• Rudo Neshamba

1 own goal

• Samra Ali (against Angola)
• Bernadetta Mkandawawire (against Mozambique)

Discipline

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

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

External links

• Official website