COSAFA endorses SA’s bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup

The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has endorsed South Africa’s Bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Dr Danny Jordaan, Vice President Linda Zwane and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lydia Monyepao, attended the COSAFA AGM in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Friday (26 May 2023) and also used the opportunity to make a presentation about South Africa’s intention to host the 2027 global event.

COSAFA also endorsed Botswana’s Bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.

Danny Jordan, SAFA President during the 2023 COSAFA annual general meeting at Sandton Sun in Johannesburg on 26 May 2023 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

“Our intention is to engage all the other regions on the continent and tell them about our intention to Bid for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027. But we wanted to start at home and after the other regions on the continent, we will engage CAF,” said the SAFA President.

CEO’S PRESENTATION

Monyepao’s 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup presentation received an overwhelming response from the attendees and COSAFA President Artur de Almeida e Silva confirmed that the regional body has endorsed the South African Bid.

“It was only fitting that we started at home first,” the SAFA CEO said.

Mr Artur Almeida e Silva, COSAFA President during the 2023 COSAFA annual general meeting at Sandton Sun in Johannesburg on 26 May 2023 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

“We had a successful AGM and we felt very much at home when we made the presentation. We also take this opportunity to wish our neighbours Botswana on their Bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. This is a signal that we are together, and we are moving together,” said the COSAFA President.

“We support South Africa fully because South Africa is ready. All the infrastructure is ready and we also know that South Africa is capable of bringing the World Cup to our zone in Africa for the second time (after the 2010 men’s tournament). I ask all of us to support South Africa and Botswana for their Bids.”

Brilliant Khuzwayo, former player during the 2023 COSAFA draw at Sandton Sun in Johannesburg on 26 May 2023 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

COSAFA CUP DRAW

Meanwhile, the draw for this year’s COSAFA Cup was made immediately after the AGM and hosts South Africa were drawn against Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana in Group A.

Group B has defending champions Zambia, Malawi, Seychelles and Comoros while Group C contains Mozambique, Angola, Mauritius and Lesotho.

The 2023 COSAFA Cup will be held in Durban from 5-16 July 2023.

The tournament group stage matches will be played from 5-12 July 2023, with the semi-finals scheduled for 14 July.

The final and the third-place play-off will be played at the King Zwelithini Stadium on 16 July.

Source: SAFA.net