| Tourney Name: | COSAFA Cup |
| Year: | 2023 |
| City: | Durban |
| Country: | South Africa |
| Dates: | 5–16 July 2023 |
| Num Teams: | 12 |
| Confederations: | 1 |
| Venues: | 3 |
| Cities: | 3 |
| Champion: | Zambia |
| Count: | 7 |
| Second: | Lesotho |
| Third: | South Africa |
| Fourth: | Malawi |
| Matches: | 22 |
| Goals: | 48 |
| Top Scorer: | Tshegofatso Mabasa Albert Kangwanda (3 goals each) |
| Nextseason: | 2024 |
The 2023 COSAFA Cup was the 22nd edition of the annual association football competition organized by COSAFA. It was held in South Africa for the sixth straight year, this time in Durban, from 5 to 16 July 2023.[1] Zambia are the defending champions.[2]
| National team | FIFA Ranking (31 March 2023)[3] | Best Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | Semi-finals (1999, 2002, 2003, 2021) | ||
| 180 | Quarter-finals (2001, 2004) | ||
| 131 | Group stage | ||
| 150 | Runners-up (2000) | ||
| 152 | Runners-up (2016, 2019) | ||
| 127 | Runners-up (2002, 2003) | ||
| 86 | Champions (1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019, 2022) | ||
| 119 | Runners-up (2008, 2015) | ||
| 106 | Champions (2015) | ||
| 66 | Champions (2002, 2007, 2008, 2016, 2021) | ||
| 118 | Champions (1999, 2001, 2004) | ||
| 197 | Group stage |
For the first time, all participants will enter the Group Stage for three groups of four nations. The winners of each group and best runner-up will advance to the knockout stages. The new format guarantees between three and five matches for each team. No plate competitions will be held in this edition of the tournament.[4]
| Umlazi | KwaMashu | Durban | |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Zwelithini Stadium | Princess Magogo Stadium | Chatsworth Stadium | Moses Mabhida Stadium |
| Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 12,000 | Capacity: 22,000 | Capacity: 85,000 |
The draw for the group stage of the 2023 COSAFA Cup was held on 26 May 2023 in Johannesburg.[1]
Group stage matches will be played between 5–12 July 2023.[4]
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Semi-final matches where played on the 14 July 2023. The final and third-place matches where played two days later at the King Zwelithini Stadium.[4]