Photo Credit: COSAFA - Council of Southern Africa Football Associations
Southern Africa’s qualifiers for the Under-17 girls and boys Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have been shifted from Mozambique to South Africa due to post-election violence in the former Portuguese colony.
There are countrywide protests in Mozambique as opposition political parties dispute the outcome of the October 9 2024 presidential elections which Daniel Chapo from the ruling FRELIMO party won. The protests have prompted the organisers of the qualifiers, the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) to move the 12-member championship to Johannesburg on the same date of December 4 to 13.
In a statement released on Tuesday, COSAFA said it would communicate the names of the actual venues of the regional qualifiers in Johannesburg, adding that the decision to change the host country was tough.
“The decision was made in the best interests of the teams and stakeholders, and was not taken lightly after Mozambique proved an excellent host for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA Qualifier that concluded in October,” a statement from COSAFA reads.
The boys’ competition will see Mozambique battling it out with Angola, Malawi and Lesotho in Group A whereas Group B comprises defending champions Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini with South Africa, Botswana, Comoros and Mauritius completing the Group C line-up.
The girls for Mozambique will travel to South Africa to battle it out in Group A against Comoros, Eswatini and Lesotho while the hosts face Malawi, Namibia and Madagascar in pool B. Group C action will involve Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mauritius.
Meanwhile, the Southern Africa Development Community held an extraordinary summit last Wednesday to tackle the unrest which has led to the deaths and injuries of many people during street demonstrations in Mozambique where opposition political parties accuse FRELIMO of rigging the elections. The ruling party insists its candidate won the polls fairly.
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