Zimbabwe has been drawn in Group B of the 2024 COSAFA Cup tournament alongside defending champions Zambia, the Comoros and another nation yet to be confirmed.
The draw was held in Johannesburg this Friday, and the tournament will be staged in South Africa from 26 June to 7 July.
Group A has South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini and Botswana, while Group C has Angola, Namibia, Lesotho, and Seychelles.
The three pool winners and the best runner-up will advance to the semifinals.
The island nations of Madagascar and Mauritius have opted not to compete in 2024.
Interim Warriors coach Jairos Tapera had already named a 23-man squad for the tournament which consists of a mixture of locally and foreign-based stars.
Below is the full squad:
GOALKEEPERS
Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Geoffrey Chitsumba (Manica Diamonds), Prince Tafiremutsa (Dynamos)
DEFENDERS
Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Thubelihle Jubani (Manica Diamonds), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Tawanda Chisi (Manica Diamonds)
MIDFIELDERS
Daniel Msendami (Jwaneng Galaxy), Joel Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday), Juan Mutudza (FC Platinum), Kingsley Mureremba (Caps United), Mtokozisi Msebe (Simba Bhora), Tatenda Tavengwa (Venda Football Academy), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum), Panashe Mutimbanyoka (FC Platinum), Tinotenda Meke (Green Fuel)
FORWARDS
Macauley Bonne (Cambridge United), Takunda Benhura (Ngezi Platinum), Tinotenda Benza (Herentals), Denzel Mapuwa (Green Fuel)
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe Drawn In Group B Of 2024 COSAFA Cup Tournament

Interim Warriors caretaker coach Jairos Tapera has named his squad for the 2024 COSAFA Cup tournament in Durban, South Africa in July.
When ZIFA Normalisation Committee Chairman Lincoln Mutasa announced Tapera’s appointment as the Warriors’ caretaker coach, he stated that Tapera and his assistants, Saul Chaminuka and Takesure Chiragwi, would be responsible for overseeing the two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month, as well as the COSAFA tournament
Below is the full squad:
GOALKEEPERS
Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Geoffrey Chitsumba (Manica Diamonds), Prince Tafiremutsa (Dynamos)
DEFENDERS
Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Thubelihle Jubani (Manica Diamonds), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Tawanda Chisi (Manica Diamonds)
MIDFIELDERS 
Daniel Msendami (Jwaneng Galaxy), Joel Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday), Juan Mutudza (FC Platinum), Kingsley Mureremba (Caps United), Mtokozisi Msebe (Simba Bhora), Tatenda Tavengwa (Venda Football Academy), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum), Panashe Mutimbanyoka (FC Platinum), Tinotenda Meke (Green Fuel)
FORWARDS
Macauley Bonne (Cambridge United), Takunda Benhura (Ngezi Platinum), Tinotenda Benza (Herentals), Denzel Mapuwa (Green Fuel)
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Tapera Names Warriors Squad For COSAFA Cup Tournament

Zimbabwe have been drawn alongside west African guest nation Senegal in the group stages of the historic 20th edition of the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Francis_Chandida">COSAFA Cup</a> that will be staged in Nelson Mandela Bay from July 7-18.
Only the top team in each group and the best-placed runner-up will advance to the semifinals in what is a change in formation for the tournament this year.
That means each side is guaranteed three games up to a maximum of five, which will provide vital preparation for those national teams involved in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers later this year.
Many teams have in the past been fielding local players and it remains to be seen if they will field international players in preparation for World Cup qualifiers.
The COSAFA Cup is making a comeback after the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay for the first time, which has been a familiar home for other COSAFA competitions in recent years.
The 19 previous editions of the competition have seen some great performances and incredible games that have been written into the folklore of Southern African football, but only five nations can claim to have lifted the coveted trophy.
Zimbabwe (six wins) lead the way, followed by Zambia (five), South Africa (four), Angola (three) and Namibia (one).
2021 COSAFA CUP DRAW:
GROUP A
South Africa 
Lesotho 
Eswatini 
Botswana
GROUP B
Zambia 
Malawi 
Madagascar 
Comoros
GROUP C
Senegal 
Zimbabwe 
Mozambique 
Namibia
COSAFA thanked the government of South Africa for hosting the event.
This is happening when Zimbabwe has banned football as a way to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw">Pindula News</a>

COSAFA Cup Draw: Zimbabwe To Face Senegal

This year’s COSAFA Cup edition has been cancelled with the organisers, the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations, there is no enough time for preparations.
The development comes when countries have been in the recent past easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions resulting in the resumption of some sporting activities. COSAFA said in a statement:
<blockquote>Sadly, this news has come too late to allow for the Cosafa Cup, with too little preparation time available to utilise the October Fifa international window, and a packed international calendar to the end of the year with the resumption of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November.</blockquote>
Cosafa remains hopeful that four of its six tournaments that had been pencilled for this year will still be fulfilled before year-end. Below are new dates:
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Cosafa Women’s Championship now scheduled for 3-14 November in South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Bay.</li>
<li>Cosafa Women’s Under-17 Championship scheduled to take place in Nelson Mandela Bay concurrently with the senior tournament.</li>
<li>Cosafa Men’s Under-17 Championship to take place in South Africa from 19-29 November, venues yet to be determined.</li>
<li>Two finalists of the competition will qualify for the continental finals in Morocco in July 2021.</li>
<li>Cosafa Men’s Under-20 Championship no longer taking place in Mauritius, now planned to also take place in South Africa on 3-13 December.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
A number of tournaments were called off or suspended earlier this year due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Some were hopeful that the virus would disappear in time for the competitions including AFCON and World Cup qualifiers to resume.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/cosafa-cup-called-off/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunday News</a>

COSAFA Cancels Some Of Its 2020 Tournaments

ZIFA has finally given up their bid to host this year’s COSAFA Cup. The association could face sanctions from the regional body for their late withdrawal.
ZIFA president Felton Kamambo revealed yesterday that their efforts to host the tournament were fruitless and they had since notified the COSAFA secretariat. The tournament is scheduled for May 19 to June 1.  Said Kamambo:
<blockquote>Our plans to host the COSAFA Cup hit a snag. We were hoping for a review of the decision, but that did not succeed. We will now await to hear the outcome of the decision by COSAFA.</blockquote>
He said ZIFA had initially wanted to use the national Under-23 side in this year’s tournament, but had noted that the 2019 COSAFA Cup had assumed a different dimension. The Warriors could be suspended from the tournament or may be fined by the COSAFA Disciplinary Committee for their late withdrawal. Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry cited short notice as the major reason for declining the offer.
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More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zifa-give-up-on-hosting-cosafa-cup/">Herald</a>

ZIFA Gives Up On Bid To Host COSAFA

Zimbabwe has been provisionally awarded the right to host 2019 Cosafa Cup, the annual Southern African championship in May, subject to getting a government guarantee.
Zimbabwe are defending champions and record six-time winners.
The Cosafa Cup is set to be held 19 May and 1 June just before the African Cup of Nations set for Egypt.

Zimbabwe Set To Host Cosafa Cup 2019

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader Walter Magaya told The Herald that his next football project is to try and win the rights to sponsor the COSAFA Cup.
Magaya said he wants to sponsor the regional tournament because it promotes unity and happiness across Southern Africa. Said Magaya:
<blockquote>We will talk to the organisers and see if we can come in as sponsors and, for us as a Ministry, it’s also good because we have extended our presence across Southern Africa and playing our part in helping the people of this region find a lot of joy, in a competitive football tournament, will be something that we will love to be doing. When you see the pictures in the stands, the happy Zambians, the happy South Africans, the happy people of Botswana and the happy people of Zimbabwe, all united by football, you can understand why we believe it’s important that we become partners of this tournament.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/magaya-eyes-cosafa/">Herald</a>

Magaya Wants To Sponsor The COSAFA Cup Tournament

Zimbabwe has won the Cosafa Cup title after beating Zambia 4 – 2. Zim beat Zambia in the extra time after the teams had drawn a 2-2 during the normal time.
Tinotenda Kadewere scored for Zimbabwe during normal time and  Khama Billiat delivered the 2 winning goals in extra time. Zimbabwe has won the cup a record 6 times.
More: <a href="https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2018/06/09/2018-cosafa-cup-zimbabwe-gun-zambia-clinch-title/">Soccer24</a>

Zimbabwe wins Cosafa Cup

The Zimbabwe national soccer team’s management has released the lineup for the players who will face Lesotho in the semi-finals of the Cosafa Cup. The match is starting at 19:30 Hrs
Here is the lineup
<ul>
<li>George Chigova</li>
<li>Jameson Mukombwe</li>
<li>Alec Mudimu</li>
<li>Kevin Moyo</li>
<li>Devine Lunga</li>
<li>Marshal Munetsi</li>
<li>Tafadzwa Kutinyu</li>
<li>Khama Billiat</li>
<li>Abbas Amidu</li>
<li>Terence Dzvukamanja</li>
<li>Evans Rusike</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2018/06/06/warriors-starting-lineup-face-lesotho/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Soccer24</a>

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