COSAFA Women’s Under-20 Championship returns this month

The COSAFA Women’s Under-20 Championship will make a welcome return to the calendar this year with the second-ever edition to be staged in Gauteng from November 20-24.

It is one of a record five women’s tournaments that will be staged by COSAFA in 2024, cementing the organisation’s reputation as the leading zone on the African continent when it comes to the development of the female game.

COSAFA has already hosted the recently completed HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship, CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier and Girls African Schools Football Championship tournament in the Under-15 age-group.

Still to come is the COSAFA Women’s Under-20 Championship and COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship, which is scheduled for Maputo, Mozambique from December 5-14.

All these tournaments are vital for the growth of women’s football on and off the pitch, including the development of coaches, referees and administrators.

This year’s Under-20 competition returns to the calendar after a five-year break and will feature four sides in a round-robin competition.

After each side has completed three matches, the teams placed first and second on the table will meet in a final. The third and fourth-placed sides will clash for the bronze medal.

Hosts South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Mozambique have all put their names forward to take part, meaning there will be a new champion after East African guest nation Tanzania lifted the trophy in the inaugural championship in 2019.

There they beat Zambia 2-1 in the final of a competition that was run concurrently with the 2019 COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gqeberha.

Maylan Mulenga, who would go on to become a full Zambia international, finished with the Golden Boot at that competition as she netted five goals.

Several other players from across the eight competing nations features in this year’s senior COSAFA Women’s Championship.

Zambia met Zimbabwe in the semifinals last time round, edging to a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Mary Mambwe.

The other semifinal pitted South Africa against Tanzania, but it was the guest nation who were too strong as they ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Enekia Lunyamila and Opa Sanga.

Tanzania took a 1-0 lead in the final through Opah Clement, who later moved to Turkey, but Zambia equalised via Loveness Malunga.

With extra-time looming, Protasia Mbunda scored the winner four minutes from the end to hand Tanzania the title.

The Player of the Tournament prize went to Lunyamila from Tanzania, who was a star throughout, while Zimbabwe’s Cynthia Shonga was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

There have been other Women’s Under-20 tournaments organised by COSAFA in the past, though those were as part of the Region 5 Games and not technically under the banner of the regional body.

South Africa lifted the trophy at the 2014 AUSC Region 5 Games, and then retained their titles in 2016 and 2018.

The women’s competition at the Games was played at Under-17 level after that.