The COSAFA Under-17 Women’s Championship will be staged in Johannesburg from December 4-13 as 12 teams compete for the regional crown.
But more than that, it is a vital introduction to international football for many players in this age-group and the beginning of what they hope will be a rise through the age-group ranks and on to senior international football.
We start with mini-profiles of the first four teams, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini and Lesotho.
BOTSWANA
Tournament finishes:
2019 – Fourth
2020 – Did not enter
2021 – Runners-Up
2022 – Fourth
Botswana have generally been among the leading teams in the tournament since its inception, reaching the semifinals at least in all three editions they have entered. They were runners-up in 2021 in a three-team competition that had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, beating Namibia 2-1 but losing 3-1 to champions Zambia. They did not participate in 2020 dur to COVID-19 but reached the semifinals on debut in 2019 where they lost 12-0 to eventual winners Uganda and finished fourth. They also reached the semis last time out in 2022 but lost 3-0 to South Africa and had to settle for fourth again.
All-time match record:
P W D L GF GA
12 4 0 8 32 46
Biggest victory: 14-1 vs Seychelles (Group Stage, 25/09/2019)
Biggest defeat: 0-12 vs Uganda (Semifinals, 27/09/2019)
ALL-TIME GOALSCORERS
6 goals – Bofelo Rantsho, Pearl Sikwane
3 – Lotang Ebineng
2 – Katlo Ditsile, Yaone Modise, Serati Modisenyane, Christinah Monyatsi, Lorato Motlogelwa
1 – Lebogang Dilelo, Tlhompho Gabana, Kefilwe Hangara, Mbapeua Hangara, Kaone Mbongwe, Palesa Mokopakgosi, Tumelo Tiro
COMOROS
Tournament finishes:
2019 – Group Stages
2020 – Group Stages
2021 – Did not enter
2022 – Group Stages
Comoros have found the going tough in the competition in the past, losing all nine games they have played to date. They did not enter in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have scored four goals and conceded 78, though the general consensus is that they are improving at this level and perhaps they can use this opportunity to show how far they have come. You don’t improve if you don’t compete and they will know that laying the foundation here for future success is vital.
All-time match record:
P W D L GF GA
9 0 0 9 4 78
Biggest victory: –
Biggest defeat: 0-20 vs Uganda (Group Stage, 24/09/2019)
ALL-TIME GOALSCORERS
1 goal – Moinahedji Ali, Anllaouia Hadhirami Ali, Abdourahmane Hairyat, Zaharouna Haoudadji
ESWATINI
Tournament finishes:
2019 – Did not enter
2020 – Did not enter
2021 – Did not enter
2022 – Did not enter
Eswatini will be making their long-awaited debut in this competition and will hope to make an immediate impression. They have been regular combatants in the senior COSAFA Women’s Championship and have shown potential. They will now get the opportunity to provide international football for girls in this age-group, vital experience that will no doubt hold them in good stead as they develop through to the senior national team.
LESOTHO
Tournament finishes:
2019 – Did not enter
2020 – Did not enter
2021 – Did not enter
2022 – Did not enter
Lesotho are another side making their debut in the Under-17 tournament and will hope for a similar result to Eswatini. They have shown themselves to be a very competitive nation in women’s football at senior level and also performed admirably in the recently completed COSAFA Under-20 Women’s Championship that was held in Johannesburg. There they managed two draws against Botswana (1-1) and Mozambique (3-3) to finish fourth out of the five teams. This is the next generation of stars at Under-17 level and they too can lay the platform for future success.
