• ZESCO United have intensified preparations for tomorrow’s must-win CAF Champions League match against Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland. Above Zesco players perfecting their art at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola yesterday.

By FELIX MALUNGA –
CHAMPIONS Zambia will kick-off the title defence of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Senior Challenge Cup in the quarter-finals against winner of Group A in South Africa.
The Chipolopolo, who won the record fourth COSAFA title in 2013, will face the winner of the group which includes another four-time champion, Zimbabwe in the North-West Province in May.
According to the draws conducted in Johannesburg last evening, Zambia could also come up against Namibia or the two Indian Ocean islands, Seychelles and Mauritius in the quarter-finals of the 15th COSAFA edition to be staged from May 17-30.
With Angola and Comoros opting to stay out of the 2015 COSAFA competition, the organisers decided to invite 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) losing finalists, Ghana from West Africa and East Africa’s Tanzania.
The draws conducted by Mozambique’s former star, Manuel José Luís Bucuane affectionately called ‘Tico Tico’ and Peter Ndlovu of Zimbabwe also saw hosts, South Africa clashing with Botswana in the quarter-finals.
Ghana will make their COSAFA debut with a last eight match against winner of Group B which has Lesotho, Tanzania, Swaziland and Madagascar.
The COSAFA draw format was the same as in 2013 where the lower eight participating sides according to the FIFA Rankings will compete in the first round while the six high rated sides will join the tournament in the quarter-finals.
COSAFA organisers believe the bringing on board of Ghana and Tanzania will provide a stern challenge to the Southern African teams.
“It will be exciting for us to see the new generation of stars from Southern Africa emerge this year for what we are sure will be a another thrilling chapter in the rich history of the COSAFA Cup,” says COSAFA competitions chairperson, Timothy Shongwe said in a statement.
The 2015 tournament returns after the successful staging of the 2013 edition in Zambia which the home side won after beating Zimbabwe in the final at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
COSAFA vice-president, Adam Mthetwa said the regional football body was optimistic South Africa would deliver an exciting tournament.
Mthetwa said it was COSAFA’s belief that the regional winner would go on and lift the AFCON and qualify to the World Cup.
South African Football Association executive committee member, Anthony Reeves promised the best COSAFA-ever to the visiting nations and the African football fraternity.