For the second year in a row the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup will kick-off with a clash between Eswatini and Botswana, though on this occasion it will be at the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha as the June 26-July 7 tournament gets under way.
The fixture at 15h00 CAT is a repeat of last year’s opener, where a goal from Lebogang Ditsele helped Botswana to a 1-0 win.
Hosts South Africa will meet Mozambique in the second Group A clash at the same venue, which has a 18h00 kick-off.
That is sure to be a feisty tie between the neighbours, and a fascinating fixture between two sides who love to attack.
Zimbabwe return to the prestigious regional showpiece competition for the first time since 2021 and open their Group B campaign against Comoros on June 27 (kick-off 15h00). That match will also be at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
There will be a heavyweight clash between record seven-time winners, and defending champions, Zambia when they take on East African guest nation Kenya on the same day at 18h00.
Kenya will be making their second COSAFA Cup appearance having debuted in 2013 when they went out in the pool stages.
Kenya will be the fifth highest ranked side in the tournament and have made a solid start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a win and two draws from their four games to date.
The first games in Group C are also at the iconic 2010 FIFA World Cup venue as last year’s beaten finalists Lesotho take on Seychelles at 15h00 and Angola face-off against Namibia at 18h00.
After those games the action will switch to the Wolfson Stadium until the final round of group games that are played simultaneously when the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium returns as a venue.
It will remain the tournament host through the semifinals (July 5), bronze-medal match and final (both July 7).
