Regulations for the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup 2025
The HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup 2025 will be staged in Mangaung | Bloemfontein from June 4-15, where the battle for the title of regional kings will be fought once more.
This will be the third year of a new format, but many of the regulations from past competitions remain in place. Here is a quick run-down of the major criteria you need to remember.
SQUAD SIZE
Coaches will be able to select a preliminary squad of 30 players, which must be cut down to 23 for the final tournament. Teams may also bring seven officials, including coaches, medical personnel etc.
COACHING CREDENTIALS
In line with CAF requirements, all head coaches at the tournament must have a minimum of a CAF Pro, A or B coaching license. Assistant coaches can have a Pro, A, B or C license. The equivalent qualifications from other confederations are accepted. Should coaches not have the above, they will not be allowed to sit on the bench during matches.
FORMAT
The 14 competing teams have been drawn into four groups – two pools with four teams and two with three sides. The group winners advance to the semifinals. The winner of Group B will take on the winner of Group C, with the top team in Group A to meet the winner of Group D.
DECIDING GROUP PLACES
Should two or more teams finish on the same number of points in the pool phase, they will be separated by the result of their head-to-head meetings in the first instance. If this does not provide a conclusion, the next criteria will be goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned and then greater number of goals scored in all the group matches between the teams concerned. If there is still no clear winner, then goal-difference in all group matches and finally a Fair Play points system in which the number of yellow and red cards are evaluated. Failing that there will be the drawing of lots.
FAIR PLAY POINTS
The Fair Play point system in which the number of yellow and red cards accumulate points is evaluated as follows:
* One point will be allocated to the team for every yellow card shown to a player.
* Two points will be allocated to the team for every red card shown to a player.
* Where a player receives a red card in a match, any yellow card/s received in the same match will not be counted.
* The team accumulating the fewest points will be the winner of the group.
EXTRA-TIME/PENALTIES
There will be no extra-time played in the semifinals or the third-place play-off, tied matches will go straight to penalties. However, the Final will have two 15-minute periods of extra-time if the match is all-square after 90 minutes. Should there still be no winner, then penalties will decide who lifts the trophy.
YELLOW/RED CARDS
If a player receives two yellow cards in the tournament, he will be suspended for one match. However, bookings picked up in the group phase fall away ahead of the knockout phase, unless they receive two yellows in the final pool stage game, in which case the suspension is carried over. If a player receives a red card in a game, he will also serve a one-match suspension. If a player received two red cards in the tournament, he will be suspended for the remainder of the competition and play no further part.
SUBSTITUTES
Teams may make up to five substitutions in a game, though these must be limited to three separate occasions within the match (not including halftime). In the event of extra-time in the final, an additional substitution may be made.
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