Seychelles seek breakthrough at COSAFA Under-20 Qualifier
Seychelles return to the regional championship for the first time since 2022 and will be seeking a maiden place in the knockout stages at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier from September 18-27.
It will be no easy feat, with the islanders drawn in a tough Group A that also includes Mauritius, Namibia and Mozambique.
The top side in each pool advances to the semi-finals, along with the best-placed runner-up across the three groups. The two finalists will qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations next year.
Seychelles’ first appearance in the COSAFA Men’s Under-20 Championship came all the way back in 2000, when losses to Zambia (3-0) and Namibia (3-1) saw them ousted in the opening round.
They returned in 2004, but three heavy losses meant another first-round exit, while the following year they lost all four games in a five-team group.
Three more defeats followed in 2007, but the next year they claimed a first-ever win with a 4-2 success over Namibia.
That proved a brief glimmer of hope as the side lost both matches in a shortened pool in 2011, and all three matches in both 2013 and 2016.
They did not enter the next two editions, but were back in 2019, though they lost all three matches to Angola (8-0), Eswatini (2-0) and Mozambique (3-2).
They skipped the 2020 edition due to travel restrictions around COVID-19, but returned for the 2022 tournament in Eswatini.
They lost all three games to Mozambique (5-1), Lesotho (1-0) and Angola (8-1) to finish bottom of their pool.
Seychelles have never before qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
SEYCHELLES COSAFA UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP FINISHES SINCE 2000
2000 – Group stages
2004 – Group stages
2005 – Group stages
2007 – Group stages
2008 – Group stages
2009 – Group stages
2010 – Group stages
2011 – Group stages
2013 – Group stages
2016 – Group stages
2019 – Group stages
2022 – Group stages
