COSAFA Announces New Dates for the 2024 COSAFA Cup The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has announced revised dates for the 2024 COSAFA Cup. The tournament will now take place from July 7th to 20th, 2024, instead of the previously scheduled dates of June 29th to July 13th. The decision to postpone the COSAFA Cup was made following consultation with the participating member associations. The new dates will allow for better preparation and planning for the teams involved. The 2024 COSAFA Cup will be the 21st edition of the tournament and will be hosted by South Africa. The defending champions are Zambia, who defeated Botswana in the 2022 final. A total of 14 teams will participate in the 2024 COSAFA Cup, including all 12 member associations of COSAFA, as well as two guest teams. The draw for the tournament will be held on May 15th, 2024. The COSAFA Cup is an important tournament for Southern African football, as it provides a platform for teams to compete at a regional level and qualify for other international competitions. The tournament also helps to develop and promote football in the region.Tournament FormatTournament Format The COSAFA Cup 2024 will feature 12 teams divided into three groups of four. The three group winners and the best second-place finisher will advance to the semifinals. Hosting and Seeding South Africa (hosts), Zambia (defending champions), and Angola (highest-ranked team) will be the three seeded teams. Participants Madagascar and Mauritius have opted out of the tournament. Benefits for Players and Coaches COSAFA believes the competition provides valuable playing time for teams ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Guaranteed Matches Each team will play a minimum of three and a maximum of five matches. Rest Days There will be an extra day of rest between most pool games, promoting player well-being. Past Winners Only five nations have won the COSAFA Cup: Zambia (7), Zimbabwe (6), South Africa (5), Angola (3), and Namibia (1). Returning Team Zimbabwe will participate after FIFA lifted its ban. Zimbabwe Squad The Zimbabwe squad consists of a mix of local and foreign-based players. Important Note This message excludes non-paragraph elements like headings and tags.COSAFA Cup Postponed to 2024 The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has announced new dates for the 2024 COSAFA Cup. The tournament, originally scheduled for July 2023, has been postponed to March 2024 due to scheduling conflicts. The decision was made following consultations with the participating member associations and was taken to ensure that all teams have ample time to prepare for the tournament. The new dates will also allow for a more optimal playing schedule, including a longer break between matches. The COSAFA Cup is a prestigious regional football competition that brings together the best national teams from Southern Africa. The tournament has been held annually since 1997, with Zambia being the defending champions. The 2024 COSAFA Cup will be hosted in South Africa, with the exact dates and venues to be announced in due course. The tournament is expected to attract a large number of fans from across the region and will provide a platform for the development of football in Southern Africa. COSAFA has expressed its commitment to hosting a successful and entertaining tournament in 2024. With the new dates now in place, preparations can begin in earnest to ensure a memorable event for all involved.