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Diamond Zebras dare to Dream

Jul 19, 2018

The 2018 COSAFA Under-17 Championships get underway on Thursday as Mauritius plays host to the vital junior competition for the third year in a row. This year’s regional tournament has added significance as it serves as a qualifier for the 2019 African Under-17 Championships, which in turn will supply the continent’s four representatives at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru next year. So the COSAFA event, which runs from July 19-29, will be the beginning of the road to the global showpiece for the 12 competing teams from the region, who all have set their sights on winning a place on the big stage.

The competition will be played at two venues in Mauritius, the St. François Xavier Stadium in Port Louis and Stade Anjalay in Belle Vue. There will be three matches on an opening day on Thursday, all in Port Louis, starting with a Group A clash between 2016 winners Namibia and Seychelles at 10h00 (06h00 GMT). Namibia returns after missing last year’s competition having surprised many to take the title two years’ ago, and will be fierce competitors once more under coach Paul Malembu.

The current holders Zambia will open their 2018 campaign with a tricky Group B tie against Mozambique, who narrowly missed out on the semi-finals last year on goal difference. The match will kick-off at 12h30 (08h30 GMT). Zambia is arguably the pre-tournament favourites, have always provided a competitive edge at all age-group levels in the COSAF region. But the Young Mambas will know they have it in them to spring a surprise and beat Zambia last year in the pool stages.

Hosts Mauritius, who were beaten finalists last year, begin their bid for the title with a Group A clash against Botswana in the final game of the day at 15h30 (11h30 GMT). It will be crucial for both sides to get off to a winning start if they are to make a bid for the knockout rounds. Only the top side in each group, as well as the best-placed runner-up, advance to the semi-finals.

Group B also contains South Africa and Lesotho, while Group C is made up of Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi and Swaziland.

soource: cosafa.com

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Botswana and Algeria Strengthen Sports Ties, with Football Development in Focus

Francistown, Botswana – The Honourable Minister of Sport & Arts, Mr. Jacob Kelebeng, recently welcomed a courtesy visit from Honourable Walid Sadi, Algeria’s Minister of Youth & Sports, along with His Excellency Ambassador Abdelmalek Tigharhar of Algeria.

The discussions centered on fostering collaboration between the two nations in sports development, with particular emphasis on Paralympics, football, boxing, and athletics. This engagement presents valuable opportunities for Botswana to benefit from Algeria’s advanced sporting infrastructure, training programs, and technical expertise.

As part of the visit, Honourable Sadi also met with BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng, alongside Minister Kelebeng. Discussions highlighted Algeria’s well-established football development structures, coaching programs, and talent identification pathways, which could serve as a benchmark for Botswana’s football growth strategy.

BFA President Emphasizes Football Development

Speaking on the significance of the engagement, BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that Botswana stands to gain valuable insights from Algeria’s football model.

“Football development remains a key priority for the BFA, and this engagement allows us to benchmark against one of Africa’s leading football nations. Algeria’s structured approach to grassroots football, coaching development, and high-performance training presents a great learning opportunity for Botswana. We are excited about the potential collaborations that will enhance our football structures and elevate the sport in the country,” said Babitseng.

The Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Ms. Nancy Chengeta of the Ministry of Sport & Arts (MOSA), along with key sports leadership figures, including:

✅ BNSC Chairperson: Mr. Marumo Morule

✅ BNSC CEO: Mr. Tuelo D. Serufho

✅ BNSC Executive Management

✅ Botswana Football Association (BFA) Executives

✅ Various dignitaries and stakeholders

The BFA remains committed to building strategic international partnerships that contribute to the growth, professionalization, and long-term sustainability of football in Botswana.