The eleventh edition of the COSAFA Women's Championship was held in Gauteng, South Africa between 4 - 15 October 2023
Fifa provides USD 1.25 million annually to COSAFA for the organisation of tournaments through Fifa Forward
For the fourth consecutive year, a research project dedicated to female health was conducted during the competition
For the first time ever, Malawi were crowned COSAFA (Council of Southern Africa Football Associations) champions, thanks to a 2-1 win over defending holders and Fifa Women’s World Cup debutants, Zambia in the final.
This year marked the eleventh edition of the tournament, which provides crucial playing opportunities for women's national teams and players in southern Africa. Malawi’s triumph came at a tournament that featured two teams who had qualified for the Round of 16 of the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand: Zambia and South Africa..
Since 2017, Fifa has provided USD 1 million annually to COSAFA through its Forward programme to organise tournaments for senior women and youth (boys/girls) and USD 1.25 Million for the cycle starting in 2023.
"COSAFA is very happy with the year-on-year improvement in the level of play. This year we have seen a marked improvement by Malawi and Mozambique, as well as Eswatini and Lesotho,” said COSAFA Secretary General Sue Destombes.
“This development is largely due to Fifa’s Forward grant to the Zonal Unions and the ability to organise consistent annual tournaments."
In addition to the COSAFA Women's Championship, Fifa Forward zonal funding also supported the hosting of the COSAFA qualifying tournament for the CAF Women's Champions League (from 30 August - 8 September 2023) in Durban, South Africa.