Operation 'bring it home' starts

Lesotho and Eswatini get started with a 2pm fixture, before the 2016 finalists square-off in the evening kick-off. The two-week tournament has been affected by late withdrawals from Comoros and Madagascar due to COVID-19. This forced a change in the format with the remaining 10 teams placed in two groups.

Zambia will join Botswana’s group, adding a new hurdle after the Zebras’ chances looked bright in a pool that also has Lesotho and Eswatini. The other group has record winners, Zimbabwe, guests, Senegal, Malawi, Namibia and Mozambique. The top two teams qualify for the semi-finals. The Zebras arrived in Nelson Mandela Bay with a new looking technical team after the departure of Amrouche, which left Letang ‘Rasta’ Kgengwenyane in charge. Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare has been roped in to assist Kgengwenyane. The interim coach has said the intention is to bring the COSAFA Cup 'home'.