COSAFA Cup action continues today, and we have two exciting matches to look out for as matchday 1 in Group B opens its doors. Comoros and Zimbabwe will meet in the early fixture before the reigning champions Zambia take on the Harambee Stars, Kenya.
28/10 Comoros | Draw 21/10| Zimbabwe 1/1
Zimbabwe returns to the prestigious regional showpiece competition for the first time since 2021 and opens its Group B campaign against Comoros. Jairos Tapera will look to give some new faces a run out, following a dismal campaign in the World Cup qualifiers. The interim Warriors coach Tapera oversaw back-to-back defeats in the previous round of World Cup qualifiers and will look for a reaction from his side in the upcoming non-FIFA sanctioned tournament. On Sunday, June 23, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) announced the final squad for the COSAFA Cup. This marks the third iteration of the squad, following an initial announcement on June 2nd and a revision on June 21st. A lack of team chemistry could open the door for a Comoros team who are looking to build on their first-round exits in 2022 and 2023. I think Comoros get the win in this one!
5/10 Zambia | Draw 5/2 | Kenya 13/2
There is a heavyweight clash between record seven-time winners, and defending champions, Zambia when they take on guest nation Kenya. The Harambee Stars will be making their second COSAFA Cup appearance, having debuted in 2013 when they went out in the pool stages. Kenya will be the fifth highest-ranked side in the tournament and have made a solid start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a win and two draws from their four games to date. Zambia still boasts a talented squad with experience in the COSAFA Cup. Past encounters haven’t been frequent, with both teams having moments of dominance. Their most recent meeting, a friendly in 2020, saw Kenya emerge victorious. The East African nation can cause an upset if they can stay organized defensively and capitalize on scoring opportunities. With Zambia’s experience, I think they win this one comfortably.