# 2024 COSAFA U-20 Cup

The 2024 COSAFA U-20 Cup was the 29th edition of the COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup, an international youth football tournament open to national associations of the COSAFA region. It took place between 26 September and 5 October 2024 in Mozambique. This competition served as the COSAFA qualifiers for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
South Africa defeated defending champions Zambia 2-0 in the final. Both finalists qualified for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa scored 16 goals in the five matches played, with zero goals conceded against them.

## Participating teams

The following twelve teams contested the tournament.
| Team | Appearances | Previous best performance |
| Angola | 29th | Runner-up (2000, 2001, 2002, 2011) |
| Botswana | 22nd | 3rd Place (2009, 2011) |
| Comoros | 5th | Group stage (2013, 2016, 2019, 2020) |
| Eswatini | 29th | Champion (2020) |
| Lesotho | 29th | Runner-up (1990, 2005, 2017) |
| Malawi | 20th | 4th Place (1986, 2000, 2006, 2011) |
| Mozambique | 29th | Champion (2020) |
| Namibia | 29th | Champion (2020) |
| South Africa | 29th | Champion (2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2018) |
| Zambia | 29th | Champion (1983, 1986, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2022) |

## Draw

The draw was held on 5 September 2024 at 11:00 CET (UTC+2) at Maputo.The 12 teams were drawn into three groups of four teams, with hosts Mozambique seeded in Group A (position A1), the defending champions Zambia seeded in Group B (position B1) and South Africa seeded in Group C (position C1). The remaining 9 teams were allocated to two pots based on the results of the previous tournament edition and were drawn to the remaining positions.
| Seeded | Pot 1 | Pot 2 |
| Mozambique (hosts)  Zambia  South Africa | Angola  Malawi  Eswatini | Botswana  Comoros  Lesotho  Namibia  Madagascar  Zimbabwe |

## Group stage

The group stage were played in 3 groups as a round-robin, where the winners and the best runner-up advanced to the semi-finals. Because of Madagascar's withdrawal, points gained against the team finishing last in Groups A and C were not included in the calculation of the best runner-up.

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Zimbabwe | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Botswana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Eswatini | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 4 | |
| 4 | Mozambique (H) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 0 | |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Angola | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 6 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Zambia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Namibia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0 | |
| 4 | Madagascar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew |
Madagascar was also drawn into this group but withdrew before playing.

### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | +13 | 9 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Comoros | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 3 | |
| 3 | Malawi | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | −5 | 3 | |
| 4 | Lesotho | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 3 | |

### Ranking of second-placed teams

| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | B | Zambia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | A | Botswana | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 3 | C | Comoros | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 | |

## Knockout stage
### Bracket

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 3 October - Matola | 3 October - Matola |
| Angola | 0 |
| Angola | 0 | 5 October - Matola | 5 October - Matola |
| South Africa | 1 | 5 October - Matola | 5 October - Matola |
| South Africa | 1 | South Africa | 2 |
| 3 October - Matola | 3 October - Matola | | South Africa | 2 |
| 3 October - Matola | 3 October - Matola | Zambia | 0 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 (5) | Zambia | 0 |
| Zambia (p) | 2 (6) | | |

### Final
## Goalscorers

There were 55 goals scored in 18 matches, for an average of 3.06 goals per match.
4 goals
* Lee Jody Ahshene
3 goals
* Kelvio Neves
* Shandre Campbell
* Prince Ndhlovu
2 goals
* Alakhe Mdluli
* Paseka Maile
* Adiel Kaduya
* Shakeel April
* Kutlwana Lethlaku
* Mumba Mwale
* David Simukonda
* Enock Moyo
1 goal
* Amado Haidara
* Simão Pedro
* Filipe Quissequel
* Gaone Japane
* Losika Ratshukudu
* Philip Kaku
* Falahidine Ahamada
* Malaik Bacar
* Malwande Gwebu
* Njongo Mazibuko
* Phiwayinkhosi Dube
* Chewane Ntakha
* Fernando Jose
* Yuran Seia
* Mwisho Mhango
* Hermas Masinja
* Engilio Goagoseb
* Ofentse Kgosana
* Siyabonga Mabena
* Mbekezeli Mbokazi
* Sifiso Timba
* Tanaka Cherera
* Nisbet Muzenda
* Emmanuel Mwanza
1 own goal
* Leluma Mofoko (Against South Africa)
* Fostino Chanda (Against Angola)