22 May 2018 – South Africa are one of only two COSAFA member countries to have won the African Nations Cup title, doing so on home soil at their first attempt in 1996. Zambia joined them with their 2012 success.

Bafana Bafana have also qualified for three World Cups, competing in France in 1998 and South Korea in 2002, and hosted the tournament in 2010.

They also hold the distinction of being the only southern African country to provide a winner of an African club competition with Orlando Pirates taking the African Champions Cup in 1995, Kaizer Chiefs the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 2001 and Mamelodi Sundowns in the Champions League in 2016.

But despite all that success, South Africa reached the final of COSAFA Castle Cup for the first time in 2002, winning the trophy with a 4-1 aggregate triumph over Malawi in the two-legged final.

After more barren years, they claimed the back-to-back tournaments, beating old foes Zambia on penalties in the final in 2007, and running out victorious in 2008, despite fielding an unofficial ‘President’s XI’ line-up that included players mostly from the second tier of South African football.

They regained the title in Namibia in 2016, beating Botswana 3-2 in a thrilling final in Windhoek with a squad made up largely of players that would compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The side then won the Plate final on home soil in 2017 and will again host the tournament this year.

FACT FILE – SOUTH AFRICA:

Established:                            1991

Affiliated to FIFA:                   1992

Affiliated to CAF:                    1992

Honours:                                 1996 African Nations Cup winners; 1997 Afro-Asian Nations Cup winners; 2002, 2007, 2008, 2016         COSAFA Cup winners

Biggest win: South Africa 5-0 Guatemala (31 May 2010)

Biggest defeat: South Africa 0-5 Brazil (5 March 2014)

Biggest win in COSAFA Cup: South Africa 5-1 Swaziland (22 June 2016)

Biggest defeat in COSAFA Cup: Mauritius 2-0 South Africa (10 January 2004)

Leading scorer in the COSAFA Cup: Pollen Ndlanya, Patrick Mayo, Katlego Mphela, Teko Modise, Gift Motupa 3 goals

COSAFA CUP FINISHES:

1997 – Did not enter

1998 – First round

1999 – Quarterfinals

2000 – Semifinals

2001 – Quarterfinals

2002 – Winners

2003 – Quarterfinals

2004 – First round

2005 – Semifinals

2006 – First round

2007 – Winners

2008 – Winners

2009 – Semifinals

2013 – Semifinals

2015 – Quarterfinals

2016 Winners

2017 –Quarterfinals (Plate winners)

 COSAFA CUP RESULT RECORD

                                                P          W        D         L          F          A

Home                                      18        10        5          3          20        7

Away                                       23        12        7          4          34        17

Total                                        41        22        12        7          54        24

 

vs Angola                              1          1          0          0          2          0

vs Botswana                         7          4          3          0          8          3

vs Lesotho                            2          1          1          0          3          2

vs Madagascar                      2          1          1          0          2          1

vs Malawi                              5          2          2          1          4          2

vs Mauritius                          4          3          0          1          6          2

vs Mozambique                    2          1          0          1          3          1

vs Namibia                            5          3          1          1          7          5

vs Seychelles                        1          1          0          0          3          0

vs Swaziland                         4          4          0          0          12        2

vs Tanzania                           1          0          0          1          0          1

vs Zambia                              4          1          3          0          3          2

vs Zimbabwe                         3          0          1          2          1          3

 

For further information please contact:

Technical       :           Sue Destombes / Sec Gen COSAFA

+27 82 9000 648

sue@cosafa.com

All other info            :           Lynda Greeff

Media Office

lyndagreeff@mweb.co.za

+27 82 446 5120 / Skype:   lynda.greeff