DURBAN, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) said Wednesday that South Africa's Durban will host the COSAFA Cup from May 25 to June 8, which would also be a warmup for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The tournament will be attended by South Africa, Mauritius, Angola, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, Comoros, Seychelles, Lesotho, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Botswana.
Timothy Shongwe, executive member of the council, said at a press briefing in Durban, "With five COSAFA nations qualifying for the AFCON in Egypt, this year's event has added significance as preparation for those players looking to force their way into their respective coach's plans for the continental showpiece tournament."
Shongwe said they chose Durban because of its rich sporting heritage, world-class infrastructure and the fans who always show passion for big sporting events.
EThekwini municipality mayor Zandile Gumede said they are ready to host the event which would contribute to the city's economy. She said that the games will unite people from all over the continent as the kickoff also coincides with Africa day.
She said, "Our officials have been working tirelessly and they have assured us that we are now ready to host the 19th edition of the games. Having hosted a number of world class events with the highest standard of our facilities is no surprise that we were given an opportunity to host COSAFA Cup at such a short notice."
Gumede said they took the games to the stadia closer to the people and made them affordable. Enditem
