COSAFA Cup: Madagascar and Eswatini Secure Semifinal Spots as Tanzania and Zambia Crash Out

Madagascar and Eswatini Seize Their Moment in Group C

No one expected Group C to end this way. Madagascar and Eswatini held their nerve and booked their tickets to the COSAFA Cup semifinals, while heavyweights Tanzania and Zambia found themselves on the wrong end of the table. Fans who watched the action at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium on June 9 knew things wouldn’t go smoothly when a hotly debated offside call struck down what should have been a go-ahead goal for Eswatini. Instead, a 1-1 draw kept both sides in contention and set up a frantic few days for Group C.

Eswatini drew first blood with Andy Magagula finding the net, but Madagascar weren’t going to settle for a simple narrative. Their equalizer not only stung Eswatini but also complicated the group standings. With the points split, all eyes turned to the next round of fixtures.

The drama cranked up as Eswatini faced Tanzania on June 12. Another twist: Eswatini looked poised to sail through after grabbing an early lead, thanks again to Magagula. But Tanzania, desperate for a lifeline, hit back. Goals from Iddy Nado and Shekhani Khamis turned the match on its head. Tanzania snatched a 2-1 victory but needed more than just that—they were still out of the running thanks to their earlier results and the group math. Madagascar, steady through it all, edged the group to claim the top spot and a place in the semifinals.

Zambia’s Hopes Crushed in Group D Showdown

Meanwhile, Group D gave us a proper football rollercoaster. Botswana and Zambia played out a pulsating 3-3 draw that had everything: leads, comebacks, and nail-biting moments. For Zambia, who came into the tournament as one of the favorites, there’s no sugarcoating the disappointment. The draw left them relying on results elsewhere—ones that didn’t go their way.

Botswana had just enough to squeeze into the next round, their attacking intent proving the difference in an unforgiving group. So, with Zambia on the sidelines and Botswana carrying their hopes forward, fans can’t help but ask: what happened to the region’s big names this year?

With fixtures locked in for June 13 at Toyota Stadium, the semifinals promise to shake up expectations again. Fans will be waiting to see if the underdogs can keep their run going, or if momentum will finally swing back to the tournament’s old guard. One thing is clear: in the COSAFA Cup, it doesn’t pay to blink. The underdogs just rewrote everyone’s script.