COSAFA Cup: South Africa fall to Mozambique in tournament opener

Africa 04 June 2025 at 13:47

Aliou Toundé

News Editor

Frustrating start to the tournament for Bafana Bafana. On home turf, South Africa were stunned by Mozambique (0-1) on Wednesday at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, kicking off the COSAFA Cup.

Facing a well-organized and compact Mozambican side, the South Africans struggled to break the deadlock. Mozambique, meanwhile, waited patiently—defending deep and then launching counterattacks. Early in the second half, South Africa were given a warning: a goal ruled out for offside. But in the 74th minute, the Mambas broke through. Forward A. Sumbane capitalized on a defensive lapse to score the only goal of the match.

This defeat complicates matters for Bafana Bafana in Group A. They now face a must-win clash against Zimbabwe on June 7. Mozambique, on the other hand, will look to build momentum against Mauritius.