12 teams, 12 numbers for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON | COSAFA Qualifier
The TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier Mozambique 2026 will bring together 12 teams from September 18-27, with regional honours and two places at the continental finals in Ghana next year on offer.
Ahead of the action, we pick out one number that tells a story about each of the competing nations.
18 – ANGOLA
Nobody scored more goals at the 2019 COSAFA Under-20 Championship than Angola, who found the net 18 times in five matches despite finishing third. They scored 13 in the group stages alone, including eight against Seychelles, before signing off with five in the bronze-medal match. Yet the regional title continues to elude a nation that has been beaten in four finals.
2 – BOTSWANA
The Young Zebras have twice claimed bronze at the regional championship, in 2009 and 2011, but are still searching for a maiden final appearance. Those remain their only two knockout-stage appearances in more than two decades of trying, highlighting the size of the challenge in Mozambique.
6 – COMOROS
Comoros went through their first six appearances at the regional Under-20 competition without recording a victory. That changed spectacularly in 2022 when they beat Namibia 1-0 and Malawi 2-0, only missing out on the semifinals after three teams finished level on six points in their group.
9 – ESWATINI
Nine goals were scored in one of the most extraordinary matches in recent COSAFA Under-20 history as Eswatini defeated hosts Mozambique 5-4 in the 2024 qualifier. It was a remarkable result in a tournament that produced 55 goals in only 18 fixtures and showed exactly why Eswatini cannot be underestimated.
3 – LESOTHO
Lesotho have finished among the top two in the regional competition on three occasions. They were second in 1990 and reached the final in both 2005 and 2017, losing 1-0 to Madagascar in the former and 2-1 to South Africa in the latter. They remain one of the most successful nations never to have lifted the trophy.
22 – MALAWI
There were 22 years between Malawi’s appearances in regional Under-20 finals. The Young Flames lost to Zambia in the 2003 decider but finally returned to the showpiece match at the 2025 Region 5 Games, defeating Zambia 2-1 in the semifinal before going down 3-0 to South Africa in the final.
5 – MAURITIUS
Mauritius collected five points from their three group games in 2016, their best showing at the regional tournament. They defeated Seychelles and drew with Sudan and Angola to finish the competition unbeaten, missing out on the semifinals only because Angola finished two points ahead of them.
1 – MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique have one regional Under-20 title, but it was a memorable one. The Young Mambas went through the 2020 tournament without conceding a goal, defeated Zambia on penalties in the semifinals and edged Namibia 1-0 in the decider. They have also finished runners-up in 2008 and 2022 and will hope home advantage can inspire another title challenge this year.
2 – NAMIBIA
The Young Brave Warriors have twice reached the regional final, in 2010 and 2020. Zambia denied them on the first occasion before Mozambique edged them 1-0 a decade later. That 2020 run did at least earn Namibia a historic first qualification for the continental Under-20 finals.
4 – SEYCHELLES
Seychelles’ breakthrough victory at this level came in a memorable 4-2 win over Namibia. It remains a landmark result for the islanders, who have found victories difficult to come by at the regional Under-20 championship and will again be looking to upset more established opposition in Mozambique.
10 – SOUTH AFRICA
Amajita have closed the gap on Zambia with 10 regional titles. Their ninth came at the 2024 qualifier in Mozambique before they retained their crown at the 2025 Region 5 Games in Namibia. They arrive this year not only as back-to-back regional champions, but also as reigning African Under-20 champions.
12 – ZAMBIA
Zambia remain the benchmark with a record 12 regional Under-20 crowns. They won the inaugural tournament in 1983, claimed a record four successive titles between 1993 and 1999 and most recently lifted the trophy in 2022 with a 1-0 victory over Mozambique in the final.
