Zambia’s Copper Queens will launch their defence of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa in two weeks’ time, with the regional tournament doubling as both a proving ground for fringe players and a build-up exercise ahead of continental commitments.
The 2025 edition of the championship will be staged in Polokwane from February 18 to March 1, with 11 Southern African nations competing across three venues — Seshego Stadium, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium and New Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Zambia, the reigning champions and two-time COSAFA winners, have been drawn in Group B alongside Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Botswana. The Copper Queens open their campaign against Botswana on Thursday, February 19, before facing Zimbabwe and Eswatini in what is expected to be a tightly contested group.
However, Zambia will approach the tournament under changed circumstances. Head coach Nora Elizabeth Häuptle will miss the competition, with her assistant Charles Haalubono stepping in to lead the team in Polokwane. The technical bench has opted to use the tournament to assess fringe and emerging players, offering opportunities to those on the periphery of the senior squad.
The decision comes as a way of balancing between immediate competition with long-term planning, especially with the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for March–April 2026.
The COSAFA Championship will allow the Copper Queens to widen their talent pool without placing unnecessary strain on key players.
Despite fielding a less experienced side, Zambia remain one of the tournament’s benchmark teams, having lifted the COSAFA crown in 2022 and 2024, and reached the final in 2019 and 2023. Their Group B encounter against Zimbabwe on February 22 is already being tipped as a decisive clash in the race for semi-final qualification.
Elsewhere, hosts South Africa headline Group A alongside Malawi, Angola and Lesotho. Banyana Banyana open the tournament against Malawi in a high-profile clash between the region’s top-ranked side and the 2023 champions, as both teams fine-tune preparations for next year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Group C features Mozambique, Namibia and Madagascar, with only three teams in the pool meaning every match carries knockout significance.
The tournament will move into the knockout phase on February 27, with semi-finals and the final scheduled at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium. All matches will be streamed live on FIFA+ and COSAFA’s YouTube channel, ensuring fans across the continent can follow the action.
HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 FIXTURES
All times are CAT (GMT+2)
Wednesday, February 18
Lesotho vs Angola – Group A – 12h00, Seshego Stadium
South Africa vs Malawi – Group A – 15h00, Seshego Stadium
Thursday, February 19
Eswatini vs Zimbabwe – Group B – 12h00, Seshego Stadium
Zambia vs Botswana – Group B – 15h00, Seshego Stadium
Friday, February 20
Mozambique vs Namibia – Group C – 15h00, Seshego Stadium
Saturday, February 21
Malawi vs Lesotho – Group A – 12h00, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
South Africa vs Angola – Group A – 15h00, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Sunday, February 22
Botswana vs Eswatini – Group B – 12h00, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Zambia vs Zimbabwe – Group B – 15h00, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Monday, February 23
Namibia vs Madagascar – Group C – 15h00, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Tuesday, February 24
Zimbabwe vs Botswana – Group B – 12h00, Seshego Stadium
Zambia vs Eswatini – Group B – 12h00, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Angola vs Malawi – Group A – 15h00, Seshego Stadium
South Africa vs Lesotho – Group A – 15h00, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Wednesday, February 25
Mozambique vs Madagascar – Group C – 15h00, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Friday, February 27
Semi-finals – Winner Group B vs Winner Group C – 12h00, New Peter Mokaba Stadium
Semi-finals – Winner Group A vs Best Runner-up – 15h00, New Peter Mokaba Stadium
Sunday, March 1
Third-place playoff – 12h00, New Peter Mokaba Stadium
Final – 15h00, New Peter Mokaba Stadium.
