The COSAFA Women's Championship is an association football tournament for teams from Southern Africa organised by Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA). South Africa have won the most titles with seven wins. Namibia are the current champions. The next COSAFA Women's Championship has been moved to 2026 in South Africa from 18 February to 1 March.
History The following teams fall under the COSAFA region and participate in the tournament: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Format The tournament begins with a group stage featuring four groups (two groups of four teams and two groups of three teams). The top team from each group progresses to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals advanced to the final.
Results EditionYearHostFinalThird place play-off or losing semi-finalists Number of teamsWinnerScoreRunner-up3rd PlaceScore4th Place120022–11–08220063–12–18320083–1 Namibia and | Zimbabwe42011Details1–03–0852017Details2–11–1 G1262018Details2–1GG1–01272019Details1–03–01282020Details2–1 Malawi and Zambia1092021DetailsG1–01–1 12102022Details1–0G2–112112023Details2–12–012122024Details Malawi and Mozambique14132025Details2–1 3–111 G: Invited guest team, non COSAFA member.
Summary Performances by team In most years there has been a match played by the losing semi-finalists to decide third/fourth places. However, in 2020 and 2024 the latter match was not played, so the teams are just shown as "semi-finalists". In 2008, it's unclear whether a third-place match was played. +TeamWinnersRunners-upThird placeFourth placeSemi-finalists 7 (2002, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) 4 (2011, 2022, 2024, 2025) 1 (2021) 2 (2022, 2024) 2 (2019, 2023) 5 (2002, 2006, 2017, 2021, 2025) 1 (2018) 1 (2020) 1 (2011) 2 (2002, 2017) 1 (2019) 3 (2006, 2023, 2025) 1 (2008) 1 (2023) 1 (2021) 1 (2011) 2 (2020, 2024) 1 (2025) 1 (2006) 1 (2022) 1 (2008) 1 (2021) 2 (2011, 2022) 1 (2020) 1 (2019) 1 (2008) 1 (2018) 1 (2023) 1 (2002) 1 (2024) 1 (2018) 1 (2017) Italic: hosts
Participating nations Legend
– Champions – Runners-up – Third place – Fourth place
– Losing semi-finals, no 3rd-place match QF – Quarter-finals GS – Group stage Q — Qualified for upcoming tournament
– Did not qualify – Withdrew – Hosts
Team 2002 2006 2008 2011 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Years GS GS GS GS GS GS GS 8 GS GS GSGS GSGS GS GS 10 GS GS GS GS GS 5 GS GS GS GS GSGS GS GS GS GS GS 11 GS GS GS GS GS GS GS GS GS 9 GS GS GS GS GS 5 GS GS GS GS GS GS 11 GS GS GS GS 4 GS GS GSGS GS GS GS GS 11 GS GSGS GS GS GS 9 GS 1 GS 12 GS 11 GS GS GS GS 10Invitee nations 1 1 GS 1 GS 4 GS 2 Total 8 9 8 12 12 12 10 12 12 12 14
Top scorers
YearPlayerGoals2005 Portia Modise62008 Noko Matlou122011 Rufaro Machingura82017 Rutendo Makore102018 Linda Motlhalo42019 Racheal Nachula102020 Sibulele Holweni82021 Sibulele Holweni52022 Barbra Banda102023 Temwa Chawinga92024 Ochumba Lubandji Fridah Mukoma4
See also Africa Women Cup of Nations COSAFA Cup
References
External links Official website