30 October 2019 – The 2019 COSAFA Under-20 Championships is to again be staged in Lusaka, Zambia from December 4-14 as the top young talent in the region gathers to showcase their potential.
After the successful hosting of the championships in the last two years, Zambia will again welcome the competing teams as South Africa defend the title they have won for the last two years.
Here are some numbers around the competition that has a rich 36-year history.
0 – The only final to finish goalless was in 2001 when Zambia needed a penalty shoot-out to beat Angola 5-3 on spot-kicks. That remains the only final to go to a shoot-out.
1 – South Africa were the top side in 2018 as they defeated Zimbabwe in a penalty shoot-out after the final had finished 1-1.
2 – The highest finish for any guest nation was the silver medal Kenya won in 2013 when they lost 2-0 to South Africa in the final.
2 – Both guest nations in the 2017 COSAFA Under-20 Championships made the semi-finals, but lost at that stage. Egypt eventually beat Uganda to the bronze medal with a 3-1 victory in the third-place play-off. Last year’s guests, DR Congo, exited in the first round.
3 – Hosts Zambia have won three of the last six COSAFA Under-20 Championships played, with only South Africa breaking their run in 2013, 2017 and 2018.
3 – Angola lost three finals in a row between 2000 and 2002. They made the deciding match in 2011 but lost again. They have yet to win the regional title and finished third in 2018.
4 – Only four nations have won the COSAFA Under-20 Championships – Zambia (11 times), South Africa (8), Zimbabwe (6) and Madagascar (1).
4 – Zambia hold the record for the most title wins in a row, four, in the championship that were played between 1993 and 1999.
4 – This year’s COSAFA Under-20 Championships will kick-off on December 4, with the final to be staged 10 days later on the 14th.
5 – Lyle Foster (South Africa) and Delic Murimba (Zimbabwe) finished top-scorers at the 2018 COSAFA Under-20 Championships with five goals.
5 – The biggest victory in last year’s competition was a 5-0 success for South Africa over Mauritius.
9 – The most number of goals scored in a single final – South Africa defeated Zambia 5-4 in 2004!
11 – The number of titles won by Zambia, the most successful nation in the history of the COSAFA Under-20 Championships.
11 – The number of years in a row that South Africa hosted the event between 1999 and 2009.
12 – The number of teams who will compete in this year’s COSAFA Under-20 Championships.
22 – The number of matches that will be played at this year’s COSAFA Under-20 Championships.
50 – The number of goals scored in the 2018 COSAFA Under-20 Championships! These came from the 19 matches played
1983 – The first time a regional competition was staged for junior teams. It was won by Zambia.
2000 – The first time a nation other than Zambia or Zimbabwe lifted the trophy – South Africa claimed the prize in 2000.
2005 – Madagascar became just the fourth country to lift the trophy after Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.