Preview: South Africa vs Comoros - prediction, team news, lineups

South Africa continue their bid for a sixth COSAFA Cup title when they face Comoros at Free State Stadium on Friday.

Bafana Bafana recovered from an opening-day defeat to finish atop Group A with four points, while Comoros impressed by winning one of the three-team groups to reach this stage.

Match preview

South Africa were stunned by Mozambique in their opening match of the 2025 COSAFA Cup, suffering a 1-0 defeat that left doubts about their chances of progressing.

With only the four group winners advancing, Bafana Bafana required an immediate response on the second matchday, and they produced just that with a 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe, which set them up nicely heading into the final round of group games.

Vela Khumalo’s men then needed the Mambas to drop points to stand any chance of qualification, and they got that help as Mozambique fell 3-1 to Zimbabwe, making Bafana’s goalless draw with Mauritius enough to see them through on superior goal difference.

Having already surpassed last year’s group-stage exit, the highest-ranked team in the competition now target a return to the COSAFA Cup final for the first time since 2021 as they aim to lift a sixth regional crown.

Standing in their way are Comoros, a side they have never previously faced in this competition, though their two prior meetings came during CHAN qualification in 2022, when Bafana Bafana advanced 1-0 on aggregate over two legs.

However, Comoros are a much-improved side since then, reaching their first-ever AFCON in 2021 and securing qualification for the upcoming 2025 tournament in Morocco.

Les Coelacantes finished fourth in the 2024 edition of the COSAFA Cup, marking their best-ever finish, and are now guaranteed to at least match that achievement with another semi-final appearance this year.

Hamada Jambay’s side advanced by topping Group D with four points, opening their campaign with a 1-0 win over record winners Zambia before playing out a goalless draw against Botswana to confirm progression.

A meeting with the hosts will undoubtedly be their toughest test yet, but Comoros will take confidence from their steady growth over recent years and from the fact that they boast the only defence yet to concede in this year’s competition.

South Africa Cosafa Cup form:

South Africa form (all competitions):

Comoros Cosafa Cup form:

Comoros form (all competitions):

Team News

South Africa have consistently used a 4-3-3 formation, although Khumalo may look to refresh his attack for this semi-final clash.

Kabelo Dlamini, the only forward in the squad to have scored at this year’s tournament, is expected to return to the starting lineup after beginning the last match on the bench.

Boitumelo Radiopane is likely to keep his spot on the left of the front three, while the third position remains up for grabs between Masindi Nemtajela and Mduduzi Shabalala.

For Comoros, Ibrahim Madi, who plays his club football at Athletico Marseille, will continue to marshal midfield duties, having scored the only goal for his country in the tournament so far.

Les Coelacantes switched to a back three for their draw with Botswana, and that setup could be retained, with Yannis Kari, Idris Mohamed and Dine Ali likely to form the defensive core once more.

South Africa possible starting lineup: 

Mbanjwa; Sebelebele, Okon, McCarthy, Letlapa; Moralo, Mngoyama, Mkhize, ; Dlamini, Radiopane, Shabalala

Comoros possible starting lineup: 

Mchindra; Kari, I Mohamed, Ali; N Ahmed, H. Ahmed, Madi, Z. Mohamed, Hadji; Djoudja, Djambae

We say: South Africa 0-1 Comoros

Playing in front of their home crowd is an advantage for South Africa who also have superior quality on paper, but they have not shown enough in this tournament to make them favourites over a Comoros side that have been astute defensively.

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