MBABANE– Could the 2026 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup be played in East London?
Reports sourced from the Daily Dispatch reveal that the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) is in talks with the regional football governing body to host the 2026 COSAFA Cup for the first time.
The BCM aims to bring the 14-nation tournament to East London to boost local tourism and the economy. Should the metro successfully win the bid, Eswatini’s national team, Sihlangu, would head to East London to participate in the competition.
The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality is located on the southeast coast of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. It is approximately 10-12 hours driving from Johannesburg, usually accessed via the N1 and N6 highways.
It is worth noting that South Africa has consistently hosted the tournament in recent years, with Durban serving as the primary host city from 2019 to 2023. The Durban deal expired after the 2023 edition, with the tournament subsequently moving to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in 2024 and Bloemfontein in 2025.
Angola enters the 2026 campaign as the defending champions, having secured back-to-back titles after defeating South Africa 3–0 in the 2025 final.
While Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications Manager Muzi ‘Rhoo’ Radebe noted that the tournament is scheduled to begin on May 23, 2026. He highlighted that COSAFA is yet to officially announce the host city.
Meanwhile, Sihlangu are yet to commence preparations for the tournament, as the EFA is still searching for a head coach to lead the squad.
Eswatini national team Sihlangu.