Namibia return, Lesotho to debut at CAF ASFC zonal qualifiers
Namibia will make a return as hosts of the 2024 CAF African Schools Football Championship COSAFA Qualifiers that are to be staged in Walvis Bay from October 11-13, while there will be a debut for Lesotho.
Hosts Namibia will hope to show their potential at this level having been a regular competitor for silverware at all age groups in both male and female COSAFA tournaments in the past.
They will hope homeground advantage works in their favour as they take to the field at the Jan Wilken Stadium, which lies in the heart of Walvis Bay.
They first competed in last year’s zonal qualifiers in Harare, Zimbabwe, where they finished fourth in the Boys competition.
They were handed a walkover win over Zambia, before victories over Madagascar (2-0) and Angola (1-0), and a narrow 2-1 loss to South Africa.
That set up a bronze medal match with Zimbabwe, but they fell to a 1-0 scoreline.
It was the same in the Girls’ competition, where they also finished fourth.
Their walkover win over Zambia was followed by a 0-0 draw with Madagascar, victory over Angola (2-1) and a loss to South Africa.
They met Mozambique in the bronze-medal game but fell 4-0 and could only match the Boys’ finish.
But it shows the potential of the team and there will be lots of optimism they can be on the podium this time round.
Lesotho will be the only debutants in Walvis Bay having not played in the previous two editions.
They will be the 13th team from the COSAFA region to compete over the three years, with only Mauritius yet to send their teams for the competition.
CAF ASFC COSAFA QUALIFIER APPEARANCES (INCLUDES 2024)
Boys
3 – Angola, Malawi, South Africa
2 – Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
1 – Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles
Girls
3 – Malawi, South Africa
2 – Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
1 – Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles