The COSAFA Show

Mark Gleeson and Nick Said
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With football news, views and analysis from around Southern Africa, The COSAFA Show offers a unique window into what is happening on and off the pitch in the region.

  1. 18 hr ago

    Roger that!

    In Episode 114 of The COSAFA Show, we speak to well-travelled Mozambican-born South African coach Roger de Sa following his latest experience on the global stage. De Sa recently returned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he helped Ghana reach the knockout rounds as part of Carlos Queiroz’s technical team. It was another chapter in a long and successful working relationship between the two coaches that stretches back more than two decades and has taken them to several different countries and competitions. He has since returned to South African football after being appointed technical director at Cape Town Spurs. In his new role, De Sa will focus on identifying, developing and preparing the next generation of players. In this wide-ranging conversation, De Sa reflects on Ghana’s World Cup campaign and offers his assessment of their performances on football’s biggest stage. He also shares his thoughts on how Bafana Bafana fared at the tournament and what their showing says about the current state of the South African national team. The discussion examines the importance of CAF Interclub football in preparing players for international competition, as well as the role continental club tournaments can play in strengthening national teams. De Sa also raises concerns about player development within Premier Soccer League clubs and the challenges facing young footballers as they attempt to make the transition from academy structures into the professional game.

    Roger that!

  2. 17 Jul

    Champions League title defence

    In the latest episode of The COSAFA Show, Gaborone United Ladies coach Khalid Niyonzima looks ahead to his side’s defence of the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier title. The 2026 tournament will be staged in Botswana from August 20-29, handing the defending champions home advantage as they seek to return to the continental finals for a second successive year. With the draw set to take place in Gaborone on Wednesday, July 22, Niyonzima discusses his team’s preparations, the lessons learned from last year’s successful campaign and the challenge of retaining the regional crown. He also reflects on the continued growth of women’s football in Botswana and what another strong showing on home soil could mean for the game in the country.

    Champions League title defence

  3. 12 Jun

    London calling!

    The latest episode of The COSAFA Show shines a light on player development and the growth of women’s football in the Southern African region. We hear from former Bafana Bafana defender Mark Fish, who discusses an exciting new link between his foundation and English Championship side Charlton Athletic, a club he represented during his playing career. Fish has long been passionate about developing young talent, in partnership with COSAFA, through his Fast Footie programme and Foundation, and he explains what this link-up with Charlton could mean for players in the region as they look to follow a pathway into the professional game. He also shares his thoughts on the increasing number of Southern African players making their mark abroad, and what more can be done to help young footballers from the region take the next step in their careers. Also on this episode, COSAFA Women’s Football head Violet Jubane gives us the latest on the women’s game in Southern Africa. Jubane offers her insight into the progress being made across the region, the challenges that remain, and the opportunities ahead as COSAFA continues to support the development of women’s football at all levels.

    London calling!

  4. 22 May

    New beginnings!

    In this latest extended episode of The COSAFA Show, we bring you a bumper edition following the COSAFA Elective General Assembly held in Harare, Zimbabwe, where key decisions were taken that could shape the future of football in Southern Africa. At the centre of the episode is newly elected COSAFA President Tariq Babitseng, who begins his tenure with an ambitious vision for the region. The Botswana Football Association President takes over the leadership of COSAFA at a pivotal time and speaks about his priorities, the challenges facing Southern African football and how he hopes to drive growth and success across Member Associations. We hear directly from Babitseng following his election as he outlines his plans and aspirations for the regional game. The show also features Zimbabwean Solomon Mudege, FIFA’s Head of Development Programmes in Africa, who provides fascinating insight into the role world football’s governing body plays in supporting Member Associations across the continent. From infrastructure and governance to technical development and grassroots initiatives, Mudege explains how FIFA assistance is helping African nations strengthen football structures and unlock long-term growth. We also hear from Seychelles Football Federation President Elvis Chetty, who reflects on the enormous success of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup hosted on the Indian Ocean island last year. Chetty discusses the impact the event had on Seychelles and reveals an exciting ambition for the future that could prove hugely significant for football fans in the region. Finally, COSAFA Executive Committee member Dr Brenda Kunda joins the programme to discuss the continued rise of women’s football in Southern Africa. A passionate advocate for the women’s game, she shares her views on the progress being made, the work still to be done and the opportunities ahead as women’s football continues to grow across the region.

    New beginnings!

  5. 18 Apr

    Getting war ready

    In Episode 110 of The COSAFA Show, South Africa captain Ronwen Williams speaks with the honesty and authority of a player who knows exactly what is at stake ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that is what makes this interview such a compelling listen. Reflecting on the aftermath of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, Williams does not hide, admitting it was “a painful three months” for the squad as they came to terms with the disappointment. With the World Cup looming, he describes the pressure as “a good pressure to have” because it means the team is still competing for major prizes and has real purpose. Then comes the line that perfectly captures the mood in camp: South Africa want to arrive at the tournament “with all our soldiers” and be “war ready.” Williams also touches on coach Hugo Broos, how Oswin Appollis has turned his career around in a short space of time, and what the team expects at the World Cup.

    Getting war ready

  6. 20 Mar

    Getting technical!

    Technical Study Groups (TSGs) are becoming a vital and valued part of coaching as they look beyond the scorelines to examine trends, tactics, player development and the bigger lessons the game is teaching us. In Africa, and very much the COSAFA region too, that role has become increasingly important as the continent’s football continues to evolve at every level. TSGs help federations, coaches and development structures understand not only what is happening in major competitions, but why it is happening. They turn matches into learning tools and provide insight that can influence everything from youth development to senior national team performance. In this episode of The COSAFA Show, we take a closer look at the value of TSGs, with a special focus on the Southern African region, by talking to the people involved in them.

    Getting technical!

  7. 4 Mar

    Brave Gladiators!

    Namibia made history with a maiden title at the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 after they defeated hosts South Africa 2-1 in the final in Polokwane on Sunday. It was a solid campaign throughout from Namibia, who got their revenge some 20 years after South Africa beat them in the 2006 decider. All teams would have taken much from the tournament, where they were able to fine-tune their squads and look at players who might previously have been on the fringes of selection. On this episode of the COSAFA Show, we hear from victorious Namibia coach Lesley Kavuka and South Africa’s Dr Desiree Ellis as they assess the final, and the campaign as a whole.

    Brave Gladiators!

  8. 6 Feb

    Hauptle, Wenger, Dlamini

    The draw is compete for the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 that will be staged in Polokwane from February 18 to March 1, where Zambia will look to defend their regional title. They will face competition from the likes of host South Africa and Malawi, with the trio also using the tournament to build towards the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 that is scheduled to kick-off in March. We hear from Zambia coach Nora Hauptle about her preparations for both competitions. We also get the view of FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger on the trends seen at the recent TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. On a similar theme, we also hear from former Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini for her thoughts on the tournament, where she was working as a television analyst.

    Hauptle, Wenger, Dlamini
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About

With football news, views and analysis from around Southern Africa, The COSAFA Show offers a unique window into what is happening on and off the pitch in the region.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Gleeson and Nick Said
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    115
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © COSAFA 2020
  • Show Website
    The COSAFA Show