Hosts South Africa were semifinalists in the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship played in Durban in 2021 and will be hoping to go one better than that in this year’s competition from September 25-October 1.

They lost out to eventual champions Mozambique, but gave a spirited display in that clash before going down 5-3.

They had defeated Seychelles 4-2 in their pool opener but lost heavily to Angola in their second game, going down 4-1. It was still enough to reach the knockout stages though.

Nduduzo Phakathi was the star player for the team as he netted five of their eight goals in the competition, with Minenhle Ndlovu (two) and Xolani Hlela the others on the scoresheet.

South Africa also have some pedigree on the continental stage. They hosted the first four years of the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations between 2006 and 2009 and so gained automatic entry as hosts.

They finished bottom of their pool in 2006 but beat Morocco 5-4 in a play-off for fifth place.

They did make the semifinals in 2007 but endured an agonizing 7-6 loss to Nigeria in extra-time, and then went on to lose the bronze-medal match 2-0 to Ivory Coast.

There was another group stage exit in 2008, as well as 2009 and 2011.

They have not entered the qualifiers for the continental competition in the last few editions.

 

SOUTH AFRICA AT THE 2021 COSAFA BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
MP      W        L          GF        GA
3          1          2          8          11

Results:
Group Stages
South Africa 4-2 Seychelles
South Africa 1-4 Angola

Semifinals
South Africa 3-5 Mozambique

 

SOUTH AFRICA AT THE BEACH AFCON
APP     MP      W        L          GF        GA
5          15        4          11        60        65

Finishes
2006 – Fifth
2007 – Fourth
2008 – Group Stages
2009 – Group Stages
2011 – Ninth