MBABANE – The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has confirmed that the 2025 Women’s Championship has been officially rescheduled to the first quarter of 2026.
The regional showpiece, which traditionally occupies an October or November slot in the sporting calendar, was postponed last year following the inability to secure a host nation. However, the shift in dates is now being viewed as a strategic masterstroke, aligning the tournament perfectly with the continental football schedule.
The new window in early 2026 is designed to serve as a vital dress rehearsal for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to be hosted in Morocco between March and April 2026.
By moving the competition closer to the continental finals, COSAFA has provided a high-intensity platform for regional teams to sharpen their tactical setups. For nations like South Africa and Zambia, who have become mainstays on the African stage, the tournament will offer the ideal competitive edge before they fly to North Africa.
“The tournament will move from its usual window to the first quarter of 2026,” a COSAFA official confirmed. “We are currently in the process of securing a host nation to ensure the successful delivery of this flagship event.”
The postponement means the Copper Queens of Zambia will enjoy an extended tenure as the reigning regional champions. Zambia secured the 2024 title in dramatic fashion, defeating South Africa on penalties in Gqeberha, and they will now head into the 2026 edition as the team to beat.
With the 2026 WAFCON also acting as a gateway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the stakes for the rescheduled COSAFA tournament have never been higher.
While the dates have been narrowed down to the first three months of the new year, COSAFA is still finalising negotiations with potential host countries.
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