Bafana, Senegal among the favourites

THE 25th HollywoodBets Cosafa Cup takes centre stage next week and it is no surprise defending champions Bafana Bafana are among the favourites to retain the title alongside 2021 finalists Senegal.

Senegal are currently the best team on the continent following their Africa Cup of Nations win in February, with their closest competitor for the Cosafa Cup being hosts South Africa who are ranked 13th in Africa.

The pair provided scintillating entertainment the last time the Cosafa Cup was held. They blew away their opponents before needing a penalty shootout to determine the winner in the final, which Bafana won courtesy of goalkeeper Veli Mothwa.

The Cosafa Cup has been largely monopolised by Bafana and Zambia for the last decade. Bafana have won the tournament four times in the last 10 years, while Zambia have six wins to their name making Chipolopolo another team never to be ruled out.

Zambia haven’t had the best results this year. Despite losing three of their last five matches in Afcon qualifiers and friendlies, Zambia always relish an opportunity to prove why they are the most successful team in the Cosafa Cup and will look to add to their 11 titles.

It is going to be interesting to see whether Gabadinho Mhango will lead Malawi at this year’s tournament, following his recent move to AmaZulu.

The 29-year-old forward was frozen out by former club Orlando Pirates in last season, but that didn’t seem to hamper his form as he looked imperious for his country at Afcon earlier this year.

Mhango’s inclusion for the Flames could be a welcome boost for both country and the player as he looks for the perfect confidence boost ahead of next season with AmaZulu.

The Brave Warriors of Namibia will enter at the quarter-final stage of this year’s tournament and are probably one of the team’s with an outside chance of going all the way.

Head coach Bobby Samaria will need his players to draw on the performances and experience of last year when Namibia lost just one game out of four at the Cosafa Cup, including managing a famous 2-1 over Senegal.

A number of the biggest teams that will take part in this year’s tournament are most likely to field fairly second string or youthful squads, which could mean the quality in each side will be put to the test.