Best finish: Group Stages (2017, 2019)
FIFA Ranking: 185
CAF Ranking: 44
Last five tournaments:
2017 – Group Stage
2018 – Did not enter
2019 – Group Stage
2020 – Did not enter
2021 – Did not enter

Mauritius return for just a third ever showing at the 2022 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship to be played in Nelson Mandela Bay from August 31-September 11 and will be seeking a first point after two disappointing appearances in the past.

The islanders have lost all six of their matches played to date and are the lowest ranked side in this year’s competition, but will be desperate to show their improvement and the great strides made in women’s football in the country.

To be fair, they have been late starters. The country only played their first official senior women’s match in 2012 and so missed all four of the previous COSAFA Women’s Championships in 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

They finally made their debut on the senior stage in 2017 in Zimbabwe, where they had a tough baptism of fire.

After an opening 3-0 loss to Eswatini, they were humbled 11-0 by East Africa guest nation Kenya and then lost 3-0 to Mozambique.

They did not feature in 2018 but returned to the competition in 2019 and it proved another difficult outing.

They opened with a 15-0 loss to eventual finalists Zambia, before they were beaten 3-0 by Botswana and 8-0 by Namibia.

The COVID-19 pandemic meant they did not compete in 2020 and 2021, so not only are the side chasing a first point in the competition, but also a first goal having scored none and conceded 43.

The only way is up from here and they will take on hosts South Africa, Angola and Mozambique in their Group A, starting against the latter on August 31 at the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.