Namibia to Host Sixth Edition of COSAFA Women’s U-17 Championship

Football
Brian Munango
  • 23 Hours Ago
Namibia will proudly host the sixth edition of the COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship from 10 to 17 May in Windhoek. The tournament brings together nine nations from Southern Africa, all competing for regional glory and an opportunity to showcase emerging talent in the women’s game.



The teams have been divided into three groups of three. Namibia, as hosts, headline Group A, where they will face Malawi and Comoros. Group B features defending champions Zambia, who will take on Mozambique and Mauritius. In Group C, Lesotho, Botswana, and Zimbabwe will go head-to-head.



Zambia enters the tournament as the team to beat, having claimed back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2024. Their most recent triumph came in emphatic fashion, defeating Lesotho 15-0 in last year’s final. The team will look to continue their dominance and fine-tune preparations for the final round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, where they will face Benin. A win would secure Zambia a third appearance on the global stage, having previously qualified in 2014 and 2023.



The COSAFA Women’s U-17 Championship has seen strong growth since its inception in 2019. The first two editions were won by guest nations—Uganda in 2019 and Tanzania in 2020—while South Africa lifted the title in 2022. The tournament was not held in 2023 but returned in 2024 with renewed excitement.



Beyond the silverware, the competition plays a critical role in the development of young female footballers in the region. Several players who have participated in past editions have since graduated to senior national teams, underlining the importance of this platform in nurturing future stars.



This year’s edition will be a standalone COSAFA event, not tied to the AUSC Region 5 Games as in previous years. That shift allows the tournament to take centre stage and receive the full attention it deserves from fans, scouts, and national associations alike.



Namibia’s young Gladiators will be looking to impress on home soil, with local fans expected to come out in numbers to support the team. With the spotlight on Windhoek, the stage is set for an exciting week of football, passion, and potential.