Tanzania drafted in as Morocco withdraw from regional showpiece
A late change has reshaped southern Africa’s flagship regional tournament. Morocco have withdrawn from the 2025 COSAFA Cup, and Tanzania have been called up as a guest nation to keep the 14-team field intact for the event set for June 4–15 in Mangaung (Bloemfontein), South Africa.
The switch drops Tanzania into Group C, the slot Morocco vacated, alongside Madagascar and Eswatini. COSAFA confirmed revised fixtures for the group: Tanzania open against Madagascar on June 7 at Toyota Stadium (18:00 local, 16:00 GMT) and return on June 11 to meet Eswatini (15:00 local, 13:00 GMT). The rest of the tournament schedule remains in Bloemfontein, with organizers making minimal changes to maintain broadcast and venue operations.
No formal reason for Morocco’s withdrawal was provided. The change comes in a busy year for African teams juggling continental and global commitments, and it leaves Group C as a three-team pool. With fewer matches in hand, every minute will matter for Tanzania, Madagascar, and Eswatini, especially if advancement hinges on goal difference.
For Tanzania, the timing is useful. The Taifa Stars have circled the tournament as hard-edged preparation for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals, which they will co-host with Kenya and Uganda in August 2025. It also feeds directly into the last two rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September and a late-year pivot to AFCON 2025—set to be hosted by Morocco.
- June 7: Tanzania vs Madagascar — Toyota Stadium, 18:00 (local) / 16:00 (GMT)
- June 11: Tanzania vs Eswatini — Toyota Stadium, 15:00 (local) / 13:00 (GMT)
Group C brings different tests. Madagascar’s Barea can be awkward opponents, quick in transition and dangerous from set plays. Eswatini, compact and disciplined, tend to keep games tight and lean on counters. Tanzania will need to manage tempo, protect the ball in midfield, and take their chances early to avoid late scrambles in a short group program.
Tanzania’s history at the tournament is brief but instructive. They debuted in 1997, finishing fourth in a round-robin format after three draws in four matches. In 2015 they returned but exited in the groups after three losses. Two years later came a breakthrough run to bronze in 2017: they stunned hosts South Africa in the quarterfinals, fell 4–2 to Zambia in the semis, then edged Lesotho on penalties to clinch third place. The progress mirrors their broader continental arc, with AFCON qualifications in 1980, 2019, and 2023 signaling a team that now expects to compete, not just participate.
The tournament setting should help. Bloemfontein’s Toyota Stadium is a familiar stage for southern African football, offering consistent surfaces and cool early-winter conditions that suit high-energy pressing. For a squad sharpening for CHAN—where home-based players are the focus—minutes against varied regional styles are invaluable. Expect Tanzania to rotate smartly, manage workloads, and test partnerships that will carry into August and the September World Cup window.
Beyond Group C, the overall format with 14 teams typically funnels group winners—and sometimes the best runner-up—into knockout rounds, though final regulations are confirmed by tournament organizers each edition. The mathematics of a three-team group are unforgiving: a slower start can be fatal. Tanzania’s two matchdays, spaced four days apart, leave little room to chase momentum if the opener goes wrong.
Morocco’s absence is notable given their status as AFCON 2025 hosts and a rising heavyweight in African football. But COSAFA tournaments have long accommodated guest nations to protect competitive balance and ensure a full slate. Tanzania’s inclusion keeps the bracket robust and renews East vs Southern Africa matchups that fans enjoy—pragmatic football, quick counters, and set-piece battles often decide these ties.
There’s also a development angle. Regional cups are where tactical identities are stress-tested and fringe players push into the frame. For Tanzania, the back line’s organization and the midfield’s ability to play through pressure will be watched closely. For Madagascar and Eswatini, this is a chance to claim statement wins and build confidence for the next CAF windows.
With the calendar locked and travel settled, attention now shifts to execution. Two focused performances might be enough for Tanzania to top the pool. Anything less, and the door opens for Madagascar or Eswatini to disrupt the script in Bloemfontein.
Why this switch matters for 2025
Pulling together a 14-team event across 12 days is a logistical squeeze—venues, recovery schedules, and broadcast slots all have to align. Tanzania’s rapid entry shows how regional bodies keep tournaments stable despite last-minute changes. It also shows how teams treat the COSAFA window as a live-fire rehearsal before bigger stages arrive later in the year.
For the Taifa Stars, this is a measuring stick. Can they control games against compact defenses? Can they turn solid defending into clean wins rather than narrow draws? The answers in Bloemfontein will ripple into CHAN selection, World Cup qualifying plans, and the AFCON build-up—three campaigns packed into a few crucial months.
Write a comment