Tanzania Replaces Morocco in COSAFA Cup 2025, Will Face Familiar Foes, Including Zambia’s Group Rivals
Morocco has officially withdrawn from the 2025 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup, clearing the way for Tanzania to step in as a guest nation from East Africa. The 14-team tournament will take place from June 4 to 15 in Mangaung, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Tanzania will join Group C, originally featuring Morocco, alongside Madagascar and Eswatini, necessitating a slight reshuffle in the fixture schedule. The Taifa Stars will kick off their campaign against Madagascar on June 7 at Toyota Stadium, followed by a clash with Eswatini on June 11 at the same venue.
For Tanzania, the tournament serves as critical preparation ahead of the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), which they will co-host with Kenya and Uganda in August. The Taifa Stars also aim to use the COSAFA Cup to gear up for the final two rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco.
Zambian fans will fondly recall the thrilling COSAFA Cup 2017 semifinal clash between Chipolopolo and Tanzania at the Moruleng Stadium in Rustenburg. In that memorable encounter, Zambia triumphed 4-2, powered by a brace from Justin Shonga and goals from Brian Mwila and Jackson Chirwa.
Despite an early scare after Erasto Nyoni’s stunning free kick put Tanzania ahead in the 14th minute, Zambia roared back. Brian Mwila leveled just before the break, and Shonga struck soon after to give Zambia a 2-1 halftime lead. A second-half penalty converted by Jackson Chirwa and a thunderous finish from Shonga sealed Zambia’s spot in the final. Tanzania’s Saimon Msuva pulled one back late, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Zambia from advancing.
Tanzania ultimately finished third in that tournament, having edged Lesotho on penalties in the third-place playoff after being denied by Chipolopolo.
With Tanzania’s return to the COSAFA stage in 2025, fans will be watching closely to see if history repeats itself, or if the Taifa Stars can script a new chapter.
