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. New beginnings!

    1 DAY AGO

    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.

    47 min
  2. Getting war ready

    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.

    13 min
  3. Getting technical!

    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.

    20 min
  4. Brave Gladiators!

    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.

    12 min
  5. Hauptle, Wenger, Dlamini

    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.

    18 min
  6. WAFCON Tune-Up

    23 JAN

    WAFCON Tune-Up

    The 2026 COSAFA Women’s Championship takes centre stage in South Africa from 18 February to 1 March, and The COSAFA Show is right at the heart of the conversation. With the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 fast approaching, the tournament could hardly come at a better time, offering the region’s leading sides the perfect competitive platform to prepare. For South Africa, Zambia and Malawi, it is a vital opportunity to sharpen their edge and build momentum ahead of a demanding continental campaign. The TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON will be staged in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April, with far more than continental pride on the line. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, raising the stakes significantly for teams with global ambitions. For the three COSAFA representatives, this regional championship is not just preparation, it marks the beginning of a challenging journey toward the global finals. In this episode of The COSAFA Show Podcast, we unpack why the COSAFA Women’s Championship has become such a crucial fixture on the women’s football calendar and what it means for player development, competitiveness and confidence heading into TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON. We are joined by COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes, who shares insight into the vision behind the tournament, its growing impact in the region, and what else is in the pipeline for COSAFA women’s football in 2026 and beyond.

    16 min
  7. Development & Performance Analysis

    05/12/2025

    Development & Performance Analysis

    In this edition of the COSAFA Show, we chat to former Botswana international Dipsy Selolwane about football development ahead of the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier that starts in Stellenbosch on Friday. We also get fascinating insights from renowned football performance analyst Musi Matlaba, who has worked at some of the biggest clubs on the continent and is among the finest in his field. He breaks down the work of an analyst and what goes into preparing teams for a match in an interview not to be missed. But first, Selolwane gives us his insights into school football on the continent and the academy he is running in Gaborone, which could prove a game-changer for aspiring players in Botswana. In the second segment, Matlaba, who has worked for the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly in Africa, as well as several teams in the Middle East in the role of football performance analyst, offers an intriguing perspective on how teams are using data to prepare for matches.

    23 min
  8. Development pathways

    14/11/2025

    Development pathways

    As we gear up for the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier in Stellenbosch from December 5-7, we shine a spotlight on youth development and pathways in national teams for young players. Renowned development coach Shawn Bishop, who is currently at Belgian champions Union St Gilloise, will speak at the upcoming COSAFA High Performance & Coaching Seminar Series, an online platform for Member Associations to engage on various development topics. Bishop will present on ‘National Team Pathways & Modern Football Trends’, and the CAF African Schools Football Championship is the very start of the journey in international football for Boys and Girls who take part in the Under-15 competition. Their journey from here will hopefully take them through Under-17 and Under-20 national teams, to the senior international level. Bishop shares his insights on development in the COSAFA region, what is our potential and how Member Associations can upgrade their development initiatives to make them more competitive in the future.

    23 min
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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
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © COSAFA 2020
  • Show Website
    The COSAFA Show