Bafana begin quest for sixth Cosafa title

South Africa will begin their quest to win a record-equalling sixth Cosafa Cup title when they face Namibia in their opening Group A match, set for the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on the evening of Wednesday, 5 July 2023.

Kick-off is at 6pm CAT.

Bafana Bafana are five-time champions of the annual Southern African tournament – one short of the six titles that both Zambia and Zimbabwe boast. Yet there is good news for the hosts in their quest to draw level with their rivals as Morena Ramoreboli will take charge of the team.

Ramoreboli guided South Africa to Cosafa Cup glory in 2021 when he filled in for Helman Mkhalele, and will be looking to repeat the feat two years on.

“Our preparations have gone very well and I’m also happy with the quality we are having here. There are some very committed individuals, very hungry, willing to fight for the nation,” said the stand-in head coach.

“So we are just hoping that we will be consistent and focused throughout the tournament. I really want to thank all the South Africans for their prayers and their support.”

Ramoreboli has been forced to name an inexperienced squad which is shorn of the PSL regulars for the national team, though the likes of Victor Letsoalo, Iqraam Rayners, Mogamat May and Bonginkosi Mahume will be hungry to stake their claim for future Bafana duty.

Namibia, who won their only Cosafa Cup title in 2015 and were runners-up to Zambia last year, will pose a tough opener for the hosts.

The Brave Warriors have retained 13 of the squad which did duty in the 2022 Cosafa Cup, with coach Collin Benjamin looking to build squad depth and give experience to up-and-comers.

In head-to-head stats, South Africa and Namibia have met in 11 matches since 1998. Bafana Bafana have claimed seven wins compared to two for the Brave Warriors, while two matches have been drawn.

The teams last met in an international friendly in October 2020 in Rustenburg which ended 1-1 after goals from Luther Singh and Absalom Iimbondi.

Their most recent Cosafa Cup meeting was in the Plate semifinals of the 2018 edition, with South Africa claiming a 4-1 win before defeating Botswana in the final for the consolation prize (which will not feature as part of the 2023 tournament).

The other Group A match on Wednesday, 5 July is the earlier tournament opener pitting Eswatini against Botswana, also at the King Zwelithini Stadium.