Johannesburg – The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has endorsed South Africa’s Bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan, Vice President Linda Zwane, and CEO Lydia Monyepao attended the COSAFA AGM in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Friday, (26 May 2023).
The SAFA officials also used the opportunity to make a presentation about South Africa’s intention to host the 2027 global event.
COSAFA also endorsed Botswana’s Bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.
“Our intention is to engage all the other regions on the continent and tell them about our intention to Bid for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027,” SAFA President Jordaan said.
“But we wanted to start at home and after the other regions on the continent, we will engage CAF.”
SAFA CEO Monyepao’s 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup presentation received an overwhelming response from the attendees.
COSAFA President Artur de Almeida e Silva announced that the regional body has endorsed the South African Bid.
SAFA CEO Monyepao said: “It was only fitting that we started at home first.
“We had a successful AGM and we felt very much at home when we made the presentation.
“We also take this opportunity to wish our neighbours Botswana on their Bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.”
Commenting further on the development, COSAFA President Jordaan said: “This is a signal that we are together, and we are moving together.
“We support South Africa fully because South Africa is ready.
“All the infrastructure is ready and we also know that South Africa is capable of bringing the World Cup to our zone in Africa for the second time (after the 2010 men’s tournament).
“I ask all of us to support South Africa and Botswana for their Bids.”
Meanwhile, the draw for this year’s COSAFA Cup was made immediately after the AGM, and hosts South Africa were drawn against Namibia, Eswatini, and Botswana in Group A.
Group B has defending champions Zambia, Malawi, Seychelles, and Comoros while Group C contains Mozambique, Angola, Mauritius, and Lesotho.
The 2023 COSAFA Cup will be held in Durban from 5-16 July 2023.
The tournament group stage matches will be played from 5-12 July 2023, with the semi-finals scheduled for 14 July.
The final and the third-place play-off will be played at the King Zwelithini Stadium on 16 July.
