Tournament hosts Zim handed relatively easy COSAFA draw

The two top teams in each group will proceed to the quarter-finals of the competition which runs from October 17 to November 1. Although Zimbabwe will have to battle their way to the quarter-finals of the tournament, they are one of the region’s heavy weights in this competition. Zimbabwe have won the tournament a record three times in 2000 under the guidance of Misheck Marimo- 2003 under Sunday Chidzambwa and Charles Mhlauri in 2005. Zambia, Angola and South Africa are the other teams in the Southern region to have won the tournament three times each.

Former Warriors midfielder Edzai Kasinauyo who was one of the players that attended the draw said Zimbabwe were one of the favourites to progress to the next round. “I think its a good draw,” said Kasinauyo. “Although Tanzania are a threat, Zimbabwe is one of the teams with a chance of progressing to the quarter finals,” he said. Zimbabwe will be hosting the COSAFA Cup- the region’s flagship tournament for the first time since hosting the CECAFA tournament in 1985. Zimbabwe went on to win that tournament after beating Kenya’s Harambe Stars 2 -0 at Rufaro Stadium.

Ironically Sunday Chidzambwa and his younger brother Misheck were in that team that lifted the cup on home soil. The Chidzambwa brothers have both won the COSAFA Cup as coaches as well, and this time around Sunday, who is the current national team coach will lead his troops hoping to win the cup for the second time as coach.

Draw Results

Group A

Zimbabwe

Tanzania

Mauritius

Lesotho

Group B

Swaziland

Comoros

Seychelles

Botswana

Quarter Final 1

Malawi vs Mozambique

Quarter Final 2

South Africa vs Angola

Quarter Final 3

Namibia vs Zambia

Quarter Final 4

Winner Group A vs Winner Group B