Hosts South Africa will be looking for a much-improved display when they participate in the 2023 COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship to be played in Durban from March 17-23, having lost off three matches last time out.

They reached the semifinals in 2021, with a win over Seychelles and a defeat to Angola along the way, before going down 5-3 to Mozambique in the knockout round.

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.

A year later it was a real struggle though as they lost their opener 3-2 to Seychelles, and then met two powerhouses of the continent. Eventual winners Senegal beat them 8-3 before they suffered an 8-4 loss to Mozambique.

Phakathi was again the top scorer for the hosts with three goals, with Abongile Gcuda and Siyabonga Mkhize grabbing two each.

South Africa do also have some pedigree on the continental stage, though they have not been to the finals in some time.

They hosted the first four editions 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
P          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 2022 COSAFA BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
P          W        L          GF        GA
3          0          3          9          19

Results:
Group Stages
South Africa 2-3 Seychelles
South Africa 3-8 Senegal
South Africa 4-8 Mozambique

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

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