Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini’s national women’s football team, Sitsebe, is gearing up for a thrilling start at the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship 2025, where they will face tough opponents Zimbabwe and Botswana in the opening stages of the tournament.
The highly anticipated tournament will take place in Polokwane, South Africa, from 18 February to 1 March 2025, bringing together eleven teams from across the Southern African region to compete for regional honours. Matches will be staged at Seshego Stadium, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, and New Peter Mokaba Stadium, providing a world-class platform for regional talent to shine.
The championship opens on Wednesday, 18 February, with Group A fixtures at Seshego Stadium. Lesotho will face Angola at 12 noon, followed by hosts South Africa taking on Malawi at 3pm. The clash between South Africa, the top-ranked side, and the 2023 champions promises a thrilling start to the competition.
Group B action begins the following day, Thursday, 19 February, also at Seshego Stadium. Eswatini will play Zimbabwe at 12 noon, followed by Zambia facing Botswana at 3pm as the holders begin their title defence. Meanwhile, Group C kicks off on Friday, 20 February, when Mozambique take on Namibia at 3pm, with every match critical in determining which teams advance to the knockout stage.
The tournament shifts to Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 21 February, with Malawi facing Lesotho at 12 noon, followed by South Africa meeting Angola at 3pm in their second Group A fixture. Group B continues on Sunday, 22 February, with Botswana taking on Eswatini at 12 noon, followed by Zambia versus Zimbabwe at 3pm—matches expected to be decisive for group standings.
The final round of Group A and B matches will be played on Tuesday, 24 February across both venues. At Seshego Stadium, Zimbabwe will face Botswana at 12 noon, followed by Angola versus Malawi at 3pm. At Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Zambia meet Eswatini at 12 noon, before South Africa plays Lesotho at 3pm.
Following a rest day on Wednesday, 25 February, eliminated teams from Groups A and B will depart, while Group C concludes with Mozambique facing Madagascar at 3pm at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. The top teams in each pool, along with the best runner-up, will progress to the semi-finals.
The knockout stage begins on Friday, 27 February, at New Peter Mokaba Stadium. The semi-finals will see the winner of Group B take on the winner of Group C at 12 noon, followed by the winner of Group A facing the best runner-up at 3pm. After a rest day on Saturday, 28 February, the tournament concludes on Sunday, 1 March, with the third-place playoff at 12 noon and the grand final at 3pm, where the 2025 champions will be crowned.
Eswatini fans and football enthusiasts across the region are eagerly anticipating Sitsebe’s performance, hoping the team will defend their title with skill, determination, and sportsmanship. With a challenging group ahead, the national team is ready to showcase the talent, resilience, and spirit of Eswatini women’s football on the regional stage.
