2021 COSAFA Cup
Tournament details
Host countrySouth Africa
CityPort Elizabeth
Dates6–18 July[1]
Teams11
Venue(s)2 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions South Africa (5th title)
Runners-up Senegal
Third place Eswatini
Fourth place Mozambique
Tournament statistics
Matches played24
Goals scored53 (2.21 per match)
Top scorer(s)South Africa Sepana Letsoalo
(4 goals)
Best player(s)South Africa Siyethemba Sithebe
Best goalkeeperSouth Africa Veli Mothwa
(5 Clean Sheets)
← 2019
2020
2022 →

The 2021 COSAFA Cup was the 20th edition of the COSAFA Cup, an international football competition consisting of national teams of member nations of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA). It took place on 6–18 July 2021.[2]

Zambia is the defending champion, having defeated Botswana, 1–0, in the previous edition's final on 8 June 2019.[3]

Participating nations

National team FIFA Ranking (27 May 2021)[4] Best Performance
 Eswatini 154 Semi-finals (1999, 2002, 2003, 2021)
 Madagascar (withdrew) 100 Third Place (2015)
 Zimbabwe 107 Champions (2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2017, 2018)
 Comoros (withdrew)[5] 131 Group stage
 Lesotho 146 Runner-Up (2000)
 Senegal (Invited guest) 22 Debut
 Botswana 150 Runner-Up (2016, 2019)
 Malawi 115 Runner-Up (2002, 2003)
 Zambia 87 Champions (1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019)
 Mozambique 117 Runner-Up (2008, 2015)
 Namibia 111 Champions (2015)
 South Africa 75 Champions (2002, 2007, 2008, 2016)

Venue

Matches will held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Wolfson Stadium
Capacity: 42,486 Capacity: 10,000

Draw

The draw for the 2021 COSAFA Cup was staged in host city Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday, June 17, 2021.[6]

Grouping line

Group A Group B

 South Africa
 Eswatini
 Zambia
 Botswana
 Lesotho

 Senegal
 Mozambique
 Namibia
 Malawi
 Zimbabwe

Match officials

Group stages

Tiebreakers

Teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 9.3)

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they met in the last round of the group;
  8. Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  9. Drawing of lots.
Key to colour in group tables
Group Winners and Runners-up advance to the Semi-finals

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Africa (H) 4 3 1 0 6 0 +6 10 Semi-finals
2  Eswatini 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 7
3  Zambia 4 1 1 2 3 4 −1 4
4  Botswana 4 1 1 2 6 4 +2 4
5  Lesotho 4 1 0 3 3 12 −9 3
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Eswatini 3–1 Lesotho
  • J. Figuaredo Yellow card 30'
  • F. Badenhorst 42'
  • K. Khethukulhe 57'
  • M. Mabelesa Yellow card 66'
  • F. Mamba Yellow card 45' 78'
 Report
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
South Africa 1–0 Botswana
 Report
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Brighton Chimene (Zimbabwe)
Zambia 1–2 Lesotho
 Report
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)
South Africa 1–0 Eswatini
 Report
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Wilson Julio Muianga (Mozambique)
Lesotho 0–4 Botswana
 Report
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Thulani Sibandze (Eswatini)
Zambia 0–1 Eswatini
 Report
  • M. Mabelesa Yellow card 51'
  • S. Gomedze 53'
  • S. Mathabela Yellow card 56'
  • S. Magagula Yellow card 57'
  • L. Mkhona Yellow card 76'
  • F. Mamba Yellow card 84'
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
Botswana 1–2 Zambia
 Report
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Thulani Sibandze (Eswatini)
South Africa 4–0 Lesotho
 Report
  • L. Fothoane Yellow card 40'
  • B. Makepe Yellow card 56'
  • M. Nkoto Yellow card 67'
  • T. Toloane Yellow card 73'
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Audrick Nkole (Zambia)
South Africa 0–0 Zambia
 Report
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Brighton Chimene (Zimbabwe)
Eswatini 1–1 Botswana
  • Ndzinisa 19'
  • Mkhonta Yellow card 34'
  • Figuareido Yellow card 69'
  • Gamedze Yellow card 71'
 Report
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Audrick Nkole (Zambia)

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Senegal 4 3 0 1 6 4 +2 9 Semi-finals
2  Mozambique 4 2 1 1 3 1 +2 7
3  Namibia 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 7
4  Malawi 4 0 2 2 4 7 −3 2
5  Zimbabwe 4 0 2 2 3 6 −3 2
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Mozambique 0–0 Zimbabwe
  • A. Nhantumbo Yellow card 52'
  • F. Simbine Yellow card 65'
  • C. Mathe Yellow card 79'
  • H. Salas Yellow card 84'
 Report
  • Q. Amini Yellow card 27'
  • D. Murimba Yellow card 72'
  • P. Musaka Yellow card 82'
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Eldrick Adelaide (Seychelles)
Senegal 1–2 Namibia
  • A. Diène 17' Yellow card 67'
  • A. Diop Yellow card 26'
  • D. Mendy Yellow card 71'
 Report
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Antonio Caluassi Dungula (Angola)
Malawi 2–2 Zimbabwe
 Report
  • R. Hachiro Yellow card 45+1'
  • B. Sarupinda 62'
  • A. Mbeba Yellow card 72'
  • P. Musaka 79'
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Keabetswe Dintwa (Botswana)
Senegal 1–0 Mozambique
 Report
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Osiase Koto (Lesotho)
Namibia 2–0 Zimbabwe
 Report
  • S. Nyahwa Yellow card 81'
  • Malvin Enos Mkolo Yellow card 85'
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Audrick Nkole (Zambia)
Mozambique 2–0 Malawi
  • . Muze Yellow card 53'
  • V. Vitinho 55' (pen.) Yellow card 60'
  • Shafiquille Yellow card 65'
  • F. Simbine 68'
  • E. Siluane Yellow card 89'
 Report
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Brighton Chimene (Zimbabwe)
Senegal 2–1 Zimbabwe
A. Ndoye 44'
M. Ba 88'		 Report Q. Amini 3' (pen.) S. Nyahwa Yellow card 58'
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
Malawi 1–1 Namibia
M. Mhone 73' Report
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)
Mozambique 1–0 Namibia
  • Simbine Yellow card 28'
  • Pelembe Yellow card 71'
  • Cândinho Yellow card 73'
  • Melito 80'
 Report
Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Osiase Koto (Lesotho)
Senegal 2–1 Malawi
  • Diop 11', 90+1'
  • Ndoye Yellow card 63'
  • Gueye Yellow card 76'
 Report
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Keabetswe Dintwa (Bostswana)

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
16 July – Port Elizabeth
 
 
 Senegal (p)2 (3)
 
18 July – Port Elizabeth
 
 Eswatini2 (0)
 
 Senegal0 (4)
 
16 July – Port Elizabeth
 
 South Africa (p)0 (5)
 
 South Africa3
 
 
 Mozambique0
 
Third place match
 
 
18 July– Port Elizabeth
 
 
 Eswatini (p)1 (4)
 
 
 Mozambique1 (2)

Semi-finals

Senegal 2–2 Eswatini
 Report
Penalties
  • E. Kane soccer ball with check mark
  • A. Dien soccer ball with check mark
  • M. Ba soccer ball with check mark
 3–0
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Osiase Koto (Lesotho)
South Africa 3–0 Mozambique
 Report
  • F. Macaime Yellow card 33'
  • S. Shaquille Yellow card 45+1'
  • D. Muzé Yellow card 58'
  • J. Pelembe Yellow card 79'
  • N. Ernesto Yellow card 86'
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Brighton Chimene (Zimbabwe)

Third place match

Eswatini 1–1 (a.e.t.) Mozambique
  • S. Magagula Yellow card 42'
  • K. Mkhontfo 89'
 Report
  • C. Mathe Yellow card 4'
  • S. Nangy Yellow card 14'
  • D. Muzé Yellow card 15'
  • M. Thauzene 39'
Penalties
  • P. Dlamini soccer ball with check mark
  • L. Mkhonta soccer ball with check mark
  • S. Mkhwanazi soccer ball with check mark
  • S. Mathabela soccer ball with check mark
 4–2
  • J. Mapangane soccer ball with check mark
  • S. Nangy soccer ball with check mark
  • S. Malico soccer ball with red X
  • A. Alifa soccer ball with red X
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)

Final

Senegal 0–0 (a.e.t.) South Africa
Report
Penalties
  • E. Kane soccer ball with check mark
  • A. Diene soccer ball with check mark
  • F. Fall soccer ball with check mark
  • D. Mendy soccer ball with red X
  • M. Ba soccer ball with check mark
  • P. N'diaye soccer ball with red X
 4–5
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Audrick Nkole (Zambia)

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 53 goals scored in 24 matches, for an average of 2.21 goals per match.

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

References

  1. ^ "COSAFA nations in friendly action over the weekend". COSAFA. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. ^ "20th COSOFA Cup 2021". International Soccerway. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Zambia crowned 2019 COSOFA Cup". Cosofa.com. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  4. ^ FIFA.com. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking - Ranking Table - FIFA.com". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  5. ^ Comoros withdrawal forces change to 2021 COSAFA Cup fixtures. COSAFA, July 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Draw for historic 20th edition of the COSAFA Cup". COSAFA. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.

External links

COSAFA Cup
2020–21 in African football (CAF)
Categories