Who has won the most COSAFA Cups - A look at the history of the COSAFA Cups

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 07 Aug 2024

Brad Newcomb 07 Aug 2024

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COSAFA Cup is an annual football tournament for Southern African nations.
14 nations participate regularly, with guest teams invited occasionally.
Notable records include Felix Badenhost’s nine goals and Sunday Chidzambwa's four titles.

COSAFA Cup is an annual football tournament for Southern African nations (Getty Images)

The Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup provides a platform for nations in Southern Africa to compete annually in a football tournament and showcase the up-and-coming future stars of the region.

The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations established the COSAFA Cup after the 1966 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Traditionally, the following countries play regularly in each tournament: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Non COSAFA nations, such as DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Senegal, have previously participated in the competition.

Only three countries have won the COSAFA Cup back-to-back: South Africa in 2007 and 2008, Zimbabwe in 2017 and 2018, and Zambia in 1997 and 1998, as well as in 2022 and 2023.

South Africa cosafa — South Africa's Potlone Mabuti during the COSAFA third place play off football match (Getty Images)

In 2008, Seychelles created history when they recorded their first-ever victory in the COSAFA Cup by thrashing Marutiius 7-0, registering the biggest win in the competition.

The only COSAFA Cup that did not happen was at the 2010 edition when the host nation Angola could not provide enough guarantees that the tournament could take place.

Currently, the tournament format consists of 12 participating teams allocated into three groups, each containing four teams. The group winners, runners-up and the best third-placed team will advance to the semi-finals, with the two winning teams of the previous round contesting the final.

Notable records achieved by individuals at all COSAFA Cup tournaments since its inception:

Eswatini striker Felix Badenhost has scored the most goals in the COSAFA Cup, with nine total from 2016 to 2021.

Zimbabwean Ovidy Karuru bagged six goals during the 2017 edition of the COSAFA Cup, the most scored in a single tournament.

Phillip Zialor of Seychelles has the record for the most individual goals scored in a match, with four against Mauritius in 2008.

Sunday Chidzambwa is the most successful coach in the COSAFA Cup, winning four titles with Zimbabwe in 2005, 2009, 2017, and 2018.

Below is the list of the most successful teams to have lifted the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup.