COSAFA sides at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup

Zambia are the only COSAFA nation remaining in the qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which will now be played as an annual event in Morocco over the next five years.

That fact should spur more Southern African sides to participate in the qualifiers, the very reason why the COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship that will be staged in Windhoek, Namibia from May 10-17 is such a vital competition.

Zambia face Benin at home on Saturday in the first leg of their final round qualifier, before they head to neutral Togo for the return fixture on April 26. Victory will see them advance to the global finals as one of five representatives from Africa, along with tournament hosts Morocco.

COSAFA sides have found the going tough in their bid for World Cup qualification in the past, with only four appearances to date since the tournament was first staged in 2008.

South Africa and Zambia have appeared twice each, but no other nations has yet to make the finals.

Here is a look back at COSAFA’s past participation in the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

SOUTH AFRICA – 2010
Finish: Group Stages
South Africa were the first side from COSAFA to reach the World Cup, but lost all three games in a difficult group. They were defeated 3-1 by South Korea, before losing to Germany (1-10) and Mexico (0-4). Jermaine Seoposenwe scored both their goals and has gone on to have a stellar senior international career, along with goalkeeper Kaylin Swart.

ZAMBIA – 2014
Finish: Group Stages
Zambia made their debut at the tournament held in Costa Rica, becoming the first COSAFA side to play in the World Cup. They exited in the Group Stages after defeats to Italy (0-2) and Venezuela (0-4), but they did defeat the hosts in their final match 2-1, with Grace Chanda among the goals. That provided COSAFA with a first ever win in the competition. A 13-year-old Barbra Banda was part of this squad, along with Ireen Lungu, Hazel Nali and Hellen Chanda.

SOUTH AFRICA – 2018
Finish: Group Stages
South Africa picked up their first point at the World Cup when they drew 0-0 with Mexico at the 2018 finals, but lost the next two matches to Japan (0-6) and Brazil (1-4) as they bowed out in the group stages. Zethembiso Vilakazi scored their only goal, but the squad also contained the likes of Sibulele Holweni, Karabo Dhlamini and Fikile Magama, who would all become fixtures for the senior national team.

ZAMBIA – 2024
Finish: Group Stages
Zambia had to wait 10 years to return to the World Cup, but did so at the tournament held in the Dominican Republic in 2024. It proved a difficult experience as they lost all three games, going down to Brazil (0-1), Poland (0-2) and Japan (1-4). The only goal they managed was scored by Japan’s Haruko Suzuki into her own net.