Angola Withdraws From 2019 COSAFA Cup On Financial Grounds

Angola announced it was pulling out of the 2019 COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup citing financial constraints and the non-availability of the national team.

The Palancas Negras, who are pooled in Group A of the tournament alongside eSwatini, Comoros and Mauritius, were set to play the Shilangu in the first round game on 25 May at King Zwelithini Stadium.

But the Football Federation (FAF) released a statement on Tuesday, stating that the scant resources available will be embarked for the preparations of the national team that will participate in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “The FAF executive committee, which met last on May 14, resolved that the Angola national senior football team be withdrawn from COSAFA Senior Men’s Cup, which will run from May 25 to June 8, due to lack of funding.”   [/perfectpullquote]

Angola’s withdrawal from Cosafa Cup is expected to attract a hefty fine from the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA).

However, according to football analysts, it would be better to pay the fine than remain in a competition which the country cannot afford.

The latest twist throws Group A into a three-team race for the ticket to the quarter-finals where the group winners are scheduled to meet defending champions Zimbabwe.

The four winning quarterfinals advance to the Cup semi-finals, while the losing teams will move on to the Plate competition.

Angola have won the competition three times: 1999, 2001 and 2004.