Tanzania vs Madagascar

Tanzania and Madagascar will kick off their 2025 COSAFA Cup journeys with a clash at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday evening.

Both teams are in Group C of the regional tournament, competing alongside Eswatini for a spot in the semi-finals.

Tanzania, one of the original participants in the 1997 COSAFA Cup, has only appeared three times in the largely South Africa-dominated competition. Under coach Hemed Suleiman, their last outing in 2017 saw them top Group A and secure third place with a 1-0 win over Lesotho. Invited late to this year’s tournament after Morocco’s withdrawal, the Taifa Stars aim to build on their past bronze medal despite tougher competition.

A strong start is crucial, especially after four straight losses since November victories over Ethiopia and Guinea, with no goals scored in those defeats. Tanzania must address their scoring drought to avoid repeating their goalless, pointless 2015 campaign.

Madagascar, in contrast, has been a more consistent COSAFA Cup participant, competing in 12 prior editions. Coached by Corentin Martins, they missed the last two tournaments but reached the quarter-finals in 2022, losing 2-0 to Namibia.

The Barea are taking the competition seriously, using it to prepare for the African Nations Championship. With only two wins in their last 11 matches across AFCON, World Cup, and CHAN qualifiers, Madagascar need a win in their opener to boost their chances in the compact three-team group, where any slip-up could jeopardize their knockout stage hopes.

In unrelated news, Bosnia-Herzegovina’s coach Sergej Barbarez has selected a 26-man squad led by veteran Edin Dzeko, likely earning his 141st cap. Key players like Sead Kolasinac, Rade Krunic, and Anel Ahmedhodzic are absent, with Kolasinac out due to an ACL injury and Ahmedhodzic stepping back for personal reasons.

Amar Dedic or Nail Omerovic may cover left-back. For San Marino, Nicola Nanni, who scored twice in last year’s League C, and teenage striker Nicko Sensoli, who netted a historic goal against Liechtenstein, are key figures in their lineup.