Magwizi Elected to COSAFA Executive as Zimbabwe Hosts High-Profile Regional Football Congress

Zimbabwe Football Association (Zimbabwe Football Association) president Nqobile Magwizi has been elected into the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Executive Committee following elections held during the regional body’s congress in Harare on Sunday.

The congress brought together senior football leaders from across Southern Africa, including Confederation of African Football (Confederation of African Football) president Patrice Motsepe, marking a significant governance and engagement moment for Zimbabwean football.

Magwizi was elected alongside representatives from Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini as one of four new Executive Committee members. Botswana’s Oabile Thona Tariq Babitseng was elected COSAFA president unopposed, while Madagascar’s Alfred Randriamanampisoa became vice president.

The Harare congress also co-opted South Africa’s Linda Zwane and Angola’s Irene Gonzalez into the committee, while Zambia’s Brenda Kunda secured the women’s reserved seat.

Speaking at the event, Magwizi said Zimbabwe’s hosting of the congress reflected growing confidence in the country’s football administration and its ongoing rebuilding process. He thanked COSAFA, CAF, FIFA and the government for supporting football development in the region.

CAF president Motsepe addressed delegates on governance and unity in African football, stressing the role of member associations in strengthening the sport across the continent.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Anselem Sanyatwe said football remained a unifying force capable of bringing together people across borders and generations.

The congress also reviewed governance matters, including youth and women’s football development, commercial growth strategies, and audited financial reports as part of COSAFA’s accountability processes.

ZIFA said hosting the event formed part of Zimbabwe’s broader return to active regional football engagement, following a series of recent continental assignments hosted in the country.