The Brave Gladiators are set to learn their opponents for the 2021 Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup scheduled for September 15-26, with the draw to be held on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

A media release by COSAFA on Wednesday stated that a total of 11 countries are set to participate, with defending champions South Africa, 2020 runners-up Botswana and the next highest-ranked side from the region, Zambia, seeded in Groups A, B and C respectively.

Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, and the guest nations of Tanzania (the second year running) and South Sudan will complete the field.

Nelson Mandela Bay will host the tournament for the fourth year in a row.

This year’s competition comes just a month before the start of the qualifiers for the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, which are scheduled to begin in October, providing competing sides with the chance to prepare well for their bid to reach the continental showpiece.

Namibia Football Association (NFA) Secretary-General, Franco Cosmos, confirmed to Nampa on Wednesday that Namibia will participate in the tournament.

“We are here to see that our teams participate, we have confirmed our participation. We just had interviews for coaches of the national team, so for now, I cannot really say who will be taking charge of the team until that process is completed,” he added.

Cosmos further stated Namibia will hold its camp in South Africa if contact sport is still barred in Namibia.

“This is an expensive exercise and finances are a big challenge. But we will see whatever we have. If we can afford it, we will make the opportunities available for the girls,” he explained.

The teams will be drawn into three groups, two with four sides and one with three, and the top team in each pool, as well as the best-placed runner-up, will advance to the semi-finals.

Source: Namibia Press Agency