Botswana coach Mogomotsi Mpote admits his side are in a tough 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification group but is hopeful that with some fresh talent to compliment his established stars, they can return to the continental showpiece for the first time since 2012.
The Zebras are in a pool along with Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, and Libya, with the top two teams to advance to the finals in Ivory Coast next year. 
It is certainly a difficult group with three worthy opponents and some arduous travels, but Mpote is confident his side will compete.

“It’s a tough one, there is no easy group [in the qualifiers],” Mpote says. “You are playing big boys now. You need to prepare well and play those games. We are expecting to work hard and win some matches. 
“We always think about the advantage of other countries, whereby they have players who are playing in the European leagues, and you have boys who are not in those leagues.
“But at least we know the boys are playing week in, week out [in the local league]. We are looking forward to those games.”


Mpote, who led Botswana to the 2019 COSAFA Cup final, where they lost to Zambia, says he would like to introduce some new players into the squad during the campaign.
“You have to mix [the squad], because we are looking at 2023 and beyond. You have players from the Under-23s, and then the tried and tested boys. If you mix, and you know you have at least two players in each position, young and senior, you will make it.
“The Under-23s will know what we are up against when we play these CAF games. Many of the boys admire the players in Europe, but once you play with them [you learn the level] and find a way to compete with them.”


Also in this episode of The COSAFA Show, we hear from Petro Atletico coach Alexandre Santos on how they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League, and the co-coach of Orlando Pirates Mandla Ncikazi on their progress in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Nigeria legend Sunday Oliseh believes African football is yet to reach its full potential but says there is one side on the continent that could win the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year. Oliseh was a star of the Super Eagles team that excelled at the 1994 World Cup in the United States and won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta two years later. So he is well placed to speak about Africa’s potential and why we have yet to fulfill Pele’s prophecy that a team from the continent would win the World Cup by the year 2000. “There is one team that can win it in Africa and that is Senegal,” Oliseh told The COSAFA Show. “I have been following them for the past few years and watching the players in Europe, and the importance that they bring to their clubs. “Senegal currently has the best goalkeeper in the world [Edouard Mendy], he makes saves, he is calm, and has height. “They also have one of the best central defenders in the world in Kalidou Koulibaly. I am amazed he is still at Napoli! He is solid on the ball, solid on the man, he can even move from the defence to the defensive midfield role.“And then they have Sadio Mane, and I don’t need to say any more about him. They also have an African coach [Aliou Cisse] that has been there for eight years now. “So they have continuity, they have the talent and the exposure, all that is lacking in this team, in my opinion, is that high-level organisation. They need to go there with the view that they can win it.” Also in this episode, we speak to Eswatini coach Dominic Kunene about their progression to the next stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and hear from Bafana Bafana mentor Hugo Broos following their 5-0 loss in France.
We also get the view of Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi as they attempt to make CAF Champions League history this weekend.

There is great football talent all around the world, but the key is how to develop young players with raw ability into the finished article for professional football. That is the view of LaLiga Senior Specialist in Football Projects Development Saul Vazquez, who tells The COSAFA Show finding players with talent in different countries is not the problem, but the deciding factor in whether they make it in the game is often the environment they are in.
There might be a potential global great in Southern Africa as we speak, but if they do not get the right training and opportunities to reach their potential, they never will, according to Vazquez. “Talent is everywhere, you can see good players in different countries. The difference is the way to develop them or the chances to develop them,” Vazquez says, adding that is a message they drive home in their LaLiga Masterclass coaching workshops.
“Sometimes the difficulty is to understand the context. That is why we can adapt our philosophy and methodology to the real context. It does not matter if we are in America, India, China or South Africa, if we can adapt our content and methodology to those players, and adapt a little bit to the environment, then everywhere we can build good players.”
LaLiga has been hosting workshops for Southern African coaches this month and Sports Projects Coordinator Carlos Casal echoes Vazquez’s views.
“For us, it is a wonderful opportunity because we believe there is huge talent in Southern Africa – not only with players but also coaches,” Casal says. 
“We believe they have interest in the methodology and how they can go one step further, and the good thing is that in this coaching series with COSAFA, we were analysing what we did in the past.
Vazquez and Casal discuss a whole range of issues on this episode of The COSAFA Show, including what makes Spain such a successful footballing country.
We also hear from the coaches of Zambia and South Africa Womens teams.

Orlando Pirates and Malawi striker Gabadinho Mhango is good enough to play in top European leagues if he can bring consistency to his game, according to respected journalist Peter Kanjere.
Mhango was a revelation at the Africa Cup of Nations and his strike against Morocco in the round of 16 is a strong contender for Goal of the Tournament. Kanjere, who has watched the forward since he was 15, says it is an indication of the player’s abilities, even if it has come late in his career. “I have covered Gabadinho Mhango since he was 15 years old and playing in the second-tier of Malawian football with Gerald Phiri Jnr at Brave Warriors. That boy… I remember he came off the bench in the second half of a game and scored four goals,” Kanjere tells The COSAFA Show.
“The goal he scored against Morocco, I have seen that same type of strike from Mhango when he was playing in Malawi. So I am not surprised because he is a boy for the big occasion. He turns up when it matters.
“In terms of the skill, work-rate, and football intelligence, he should be at a world-class level. But I think he is oftentimes betrayed by his temperament and consistency. 
“What he has shown in the last few games is the Mhango that we knew before he left Malawi. But maybe because he has not been through the developmental stages, he is not consistent. 
“Unfortunately this is happening when he is at the age of 29. I wish he went to Afcon when he was 23 because I believe, on his day, he is unplayable and good enough for teams in top European leagues.”


Also on this edition of the podcast, we get the views of respected French journalist Frank Simon on how the COSAFA nations fared in Cameroon, and hear an inspirational speech from Football Association of Malawi President Walter Nyamilandu.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently spoke to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo where he outlined his vision for the global game and where Africa fits into it.
Infantino went through a range of topics, but one of the main points he wanted to get across was the benefit of hosting a FIFA World Cup every two years, or in the case of junior competitions, every year.
He believes it will provide an opportunity to players and for African countries especially, be a platform to drive improvements in their football. “Those who don’t qualify [for Qatar 2022] will have to wait another four years for the chance to play at the World Cup,” Infantino said. “We need to give more opportunities to all the teams to play against each other. “Whether it be the World Cup, or in another way, we have to study all of those. We need to offer more opportunities and chances for world football, for African football to shine on the
world stage. “This is valid for men’s and women’s football, as well as youth football, which is also part of the reform process. We really believe we need to have youth competitions every year and
not every two years. “Because with competitions every two years, if you are not born in the right month of the right year, you may have no opportunities to compete.” Infantino also spoke about the African Super League among various other topics. On this episode of The COSAFA Show, we also speak to former Bafana Bafana international
Mark Fish to find out what he is up, while we track down ex-Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Matty Pattison to hear his story and what his future plans are.

Malawi national team coach Meke Mwase admits South Africa’s Premier Soccer League played a leading role in his side qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations that will take place in Cameroon from January. 
The likes of Orlando Pirates striker Gabadinho Mhango, AmaZulu defender Limbikani Mzava and the Baroka FC duo of midfielder Gerald Phiri Jnr and striker Richard Mbulu were all key elements of The Flames’ success. 
With Malawi’s domestic league suspended, the fact that those players were able to keep playing and stay match fit was a major plus, says former Jomo Cosmos defender Mwase. “Most of our foreign-based players are in South Africa, so when COVID-19 came on us, it was only South Africa’s Premier Soccer League that still had some games being played,” he told The COSAFA Show. “It really contributed a lot to our qualification, but I am a bit worried because a lot of them don’t have game-time [at their clubs] now.”
Malawi have been drawn in a tough pool in Cameroon along with Senegal, Guinea and COSAFA rivals Zimbabwe. They have two previous visits to the finals but have yet to get out of the pool stage. “All the teams are very strong, in football you don’t know what will happen. But what we are going to do is fight for ourselves and see how far we can go,” Mwase says. “We are still a young team and still learning, but we are very confident that we are going to do well in the finals in Cameroon. We hope the boys will give their all, for themselves and for Malawi as well.
“Since we have been there twice before, we have not qualified for the quarterfinals and this is what we are fighting for. But as well, we would like to finish in the semifinals or the final even. You never know in football.”
Also on this episode of The COSAFA Show, we hear from South African-born winger DeAndre Vollenhoven, who is just starting his career at New Zealand side Auckland City.