Travel challenges have forced the late withdrawal of defending champions Madagascar from the 2021 COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship, ensuring there will be a new winner crowned in Durban from Nov. 17-21.
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely restricted air links to and from the island, which has forced the side to regrettably withdraw from the competition they won in Seychelles in 2015.
It means there will now be three teams each in Groups A and B, with a Plate Final added to the list of fixtures.
Hosts South Africa will face Group A rivals Seychelles (10h00 CAT) and Angola (15h30) on the opening day on Wednesday, with Mozambique to clash with Comoros in Group B (11h30) at the South Beach Arena.
The last game in Group A between Angola and Seychelles will take place on Thursday (11h30), while East African guest nation Tanzania tackle Mozambique (10h00) and Comoros (15h30) in Group B.
The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals that will be staged on Friday, while there will also be a play final for the teams that finish bottom of the groups.
The competition’s final will be held on Sunday at 14h00.
