The TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 | COSAFA Qualifiers were recently staged in Harare, Zimbabwe to full stadiums and an incredible atmosphere. Stands were packed at the Ngoni Stadium despite the host nation going out in the group stages, and it was a reminder again, if one was needed, just what a football-loving country Zimbabwe is.

South Africa took home the trophy for a record-equaling fourth time, drawing them level with Zambia on the all-time list, with a squad that was put together just days before the tournament started.

They qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026, along with runners-up Angola and Mozambique, who took the bronze medal. The trio will represent the COSAFA region on the continental stage and we hope will be three of the 10 African nations who will qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar next year.

We will hear from all three of their coaches, starting with South Africa’s Vela Khumalo, who had just a few training sessions to get his side ready for competition.

Angola coach Mario Catala was disappointed his side could only take home the silver medal despite an excellent run to the final in which they scored 18 goals in four games and did not conceded a single one. But his pre-tournament aim was also to qualify for the continental finals, and that was achieved.

Mozambique coach Luis Guerreiro had to settle for the bronze medal but he too can look forward to a place in the continental finals after the Young Mambas beat Comoros 3-0 in the third-place play-off.

We have a varied COSAFA Show for you this week, taking in a top striker, a women’s football coach on the rise and the aftermath of the of the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 | COSAFA Qualifiers that were won by Gaborone United Ladies FC.

Namibia’s hot-shot striker Peter Shalulile recently reached a major milestone when he became the most prolific goal-scorer in the 29-year history of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.

We hear from him on that record, getting Namibia to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and what the future might old.

Seychelles women’s coach Chris Yip-Au recently took part in the FIFA Elite Performance: Coaches’ Mentorship Program. She had experienced Australian tactician Vicki Linton as her mentor and tells us about that experience.

Gaborone United were crowned champions of the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 | COSAFA Qualifiers this past weekend when they defeated ZESCO Ndola Girls in a thrilling penalty shoot-out in the final in Johannesburg.

Their victory sees them qualify for the continental finals and also makes up for defeat on penalties in the decider last year.

Their coach Khalid Niyonzima has masterminded their success and spoke after the final.

Zesco Ndola Girls had hoped to become the second Zambian winners of the regional title after Green Buffaloes in 2022 but fell just short. Their coach William Zulu tells us where it all went wrong.

On our special 100th edition of The COSAFA Show, a century of episodes that have taken you across the Southern African region and beyond over the last few years, we chat to former Namibia international Salome Iiyambo, who is the owner and coach of Beauties FC.

They are one of two teams that will debut at the expanded CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers to be played in Johannesburg from August 22-31.

Beauties are an historic club in Namibia but have been drawn into a tough pool at the regional championship that also includes two-time winners Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, Ntopwa FC of Malawi and Zambia’s Zesco Ndola Girls.

Only the winner of the tournament advances to the continental finals and Iiyambo knows the task at hand for her side but says their appearance at the tournament is about a lot more than what happens on the pitch.