The 2024 COSAFA U-17 Youth Championship (officially known as the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025 — COSAFA Qualifiers) was the 12th edition of the COSAFA U-17 Youth Championship (and the 4th time the tournament served as the qualifiers for the continental final tournament), the international youth football championship organised by COSAFA for the men's under-17 national teams of Southern Africa. Mozambique was initially designated to host the tournament but was stripped of the hosting rights due to ongoing protests following the 2024 Mozambican general election.[1] It was then moved to Johannesburg, South Africa.[2]
Zambia were the defending champions, having defeated South Africa 2–1 in the final of the previous edition,[3] and they successfully retained their title by defeating Angola 2–1 in the final.[4]
Participation
Participating teams
Twelve of the 14 COSAFA member nations have entered the competition, which serves as the regional qualifying tournament for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.[5] Originally there were 2 qualification spots, but a third spot was added after the competition.[6][7][8]
Note: All statistics exclude instances where the team was disqualified during the tournament.
Team
|
Appearance
|
Last appearance
|
Previous best performance
|
Angola |
7th |
2021 (Champions) |
Champions (2018, 2021)
|
Botswana |
9th |
2022 (Fourth place) |
Third place (2002)
|
Comoros |
2nd |
2019 (Group stage) |
Group stage (2019)
|
Eswatini |
8th |
2021 (Fourth place) |
Runners-up (2002)
|
Lesotho |
8th |
2021 (Group stage) |
Fourth place (2002)
|
Malawi |
11th |
2022 (Third place) |
Champions (2001)
|
Mauritius |
6th |
2018 (Fourth place) |
Runners-up (2017)
|
Mozambique |
6th |
2022 (Group stage) |
Runners-up (1994, 2019)
|
Namibia |
7th |
2022 (Group stage) |
Champions (2016)
|
South Africa |
11th |
2022 (Runners-up) |
Champions (1994, 2002, 2020)
|
Zambia |
10th |
2022 (Champions) |
Champions (2017, 2019, 2022)
|
Zimbabwe |
6th |
2018 (Group stage) |
Champions (2007)
|
- Did not enter
Draw
The draw was held on 5 September 2024 at 11:00 CET (UTC+2) at Maputo. The 12 teams were drawn into three groups of four teams, with hosts Mozambique seeded in Group A (position A1), the defending champions Zambia seeded in Group B (position B1) and South Africa seeded in Group C (position C1). The remaining 9 teams were allocated to two pots based on the results of the previous tournament edition and were drawn to the remaining positions.[9][10]
Squads
Each team was required to register a squad of 20 players for the tournament, with players born on or after 1 January 2008 eligible to participate.[11]
Venues
On 26 November 2024, it was announced that the tournament had been moved from the original host city, Maputo, Mozambique, to Johannesburg, South Africa, with two venues selected to host all matches.[12]
Match officials
The following officials were appointed to oversee the tournament:
- Referees
Nelson da Silva
Joyce Seonyatseng
Moemedi Thabologang
Thembinkosi Dlamini
Nothando Nkhumane
Wilson Muianga
Mweshitsama Naftal
Samuel Nghipandulwa
Noris Arissol
Nonjabulo Ndlela
Chola Chansa
Brighton Chimene
- Assistant Referees
Dorcus Chenset
Mooketsi Mankanku
Celumusa Phiri
Siza Dlangamandla
Lameck Phiri
Nandipha Menze
Warren Mulenga
Dominica Melusi
- Video Assistant Referees
- Assistant Video Assistant Referees
Group stage
Tie-breaking criteria for group play[11]
|
Should two teams finish on the same number of points in the pool phase, they will be separated by:
- The result of their head-to-head meetings in the first instance;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Disciplinary points
- Yellow card: −1 point;
- Indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points;
- Direct red card: −3 points;
- Drawing of lots.
Should more than two teams finish level on points, the following criteria will be used:
- The greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams concerned;
- The goal difference in the matches between the teams concerned;
- The greatest number of goals scored in the matches between the teams concerned;
- If after applying criteria (1) to (3), two teams are still equal, the criteria will be reapplied to matches played between the two teams in question to determine the final ranking of the two teams.
If this procedure does not allow for classification, the criteria listed below will be applied in the indicated order:
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- The highest number of goals scored in all group matches;
- Fair Play points system.
|
Group A
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
Qualification
|
1
|
Angola
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
2
|
+2
|
7
|
Semi-finals
|
2
|
Mozambique
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
|
3
|
Lesotho
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
5
|
−1
|
3
|
4
|
Malawi
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
−1
|
2
|
Group B
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
Qualification
|
1
|
Zambia
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
14
|
1
|
+13
|
9
|
Semi-finals
|
2
|
Zimbabwe
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
10
|
10
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
Namibia
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
13
|
−7
|
4
|
|
4
|
Eswatini
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
8
|
−6
|
0
|
Group C
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
Qualification
|
1
|
South Africa (H)
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
2
|
+8
|
9
|
Semi-finals
|
2
|
Botswana
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
−2
|
4
|
|
3
|
Comoros
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
−3
|
2
|
4
|
Mauritius
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
5
|
−3
|
1
|
Ranking of second-placed teams
The best second-placed team from all groups qualified for the semi-finals.[11]
Pos
|
Grp
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
Qualification
|
1
|
B
|
Zimbabwe
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
10
|
10
|
0
|
4
|
Semi-finals
|
2
|
A
|
Mozambique
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
|
3
|
C
|
Botswana
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
−2
|
4
|
Knockout stage
In the knockout stage, a penalty shoot-out was used to decide the winner if necessary (no extra time was played).[11]
Bracket
Semi-finals
Winners qualified for 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
Final
Goalscorers
There were 70 goals scored in 21 matches, for an average of 3.33 goals per match.
7 goals
Abel Nyirongo
5 goals
El Shaddai Sadomba
3 goals
Rethabile Nqoko
Gabriel Phiri
Mapalo Simute
Valentine Macheka
2 goals
Eliseu
Kgosi Tshidi
James Lumbe
Brayton Paulse
Neo Bohloko
Kamohelo Maraletse
Omphemetse Sekgoto
Selwyn Stevens
Tadiwa Chakuchichi
1 goal
Densel
Jario
Dias Luvumbo
Omar
Kutlo Mananye
Kaylan Saïd
Aviwe Dlamini
Menzi Dlamini
Thuto Khetsi
Clifford Chisale
Yusufu Nantunga
Julian Rabaye
Aldo Ravina
Kille Lino
Levonor Timbe
Andriano Gawab
Stephen Kamulu
Ronald Kandjou
Christiano Useb
Simphiwe Mlondo
Sive Pama
Emile Witbooi
Robert Banda
Nkotami Chimwemwe
Jonathan Kalimina
Nthasilwe Malupande
1 own goal
Milko Solunga (against Zambia)
Jonathan Kalimina (against Angola)
Awards
The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:[13]
- Player of the Tournament:
Mapalo Simute
- Golden Boot:
Abel Nyirongo (7 goals)
- Golden Glove
Gelson Dala
- Fair Play prize:
Angola
Qualified teams for CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
The following three teams from COSAFA qualified for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.[14]
See also
References
External links