20 years of Cosafa
Namibia is in the mix of teams that have engraved their names on the prestigious trophy over the past 20 years.
This year we celebrate 20 years of the Cosafa Castle Cup, with the first tournament having been staged in 1997.
Here is a brief trip down memory lane as we look at how the tournament has evolved.
1997
Zambia won the inaugural Cosafa Cup after they claimed the event with top spot in the tournament mini-league.
1998
The tournament saw the entry of South Africa and Angola for the first time.
South Africa lost 3-2 in the first round to Namibia, a first-ever win for the Brave Warriors over their neighbours.
Zambia again headed the table with eight points, followed by Zimbabwe (six), Angola (six), Namibia (five) and Mozambique (one).
1999
The third instalment of the competition was played for the first time as a knockout tournament from start to finish.
Namibia won their place in the final after beating South Africa and Swaziland and took on Angola.
The final was played over two legs, with the first in Luanda settled 1-0 in favour of Angola after a penalty from Betinho.
Eliphas Shivute brought Namibia level in the second leg in Windhoek, sending the tie into extra-time.
But a goal from Zico after 101 minutes handed Angola the first of their three titles to date.
2000
The fourth instalment of the cup saw Zimbabwe claim a first ever title, one of four they would go on to win to date.
An Eric Makara own goal and further strikes from William Mugeyi and Luke Petros gave Zimbabwe a 3-0 win over Zambia in Maseru, before they won by the same margin in Harare in the second game.
2001
The fifth instalment of the competition featured 11 Southern African countries and would again end in an Angolan victory.
2002
South Africa won a maiden title in 2002, a tournament that also featured Madagascar for the first time.
2003
Zimbabwe would claim their second Cosafa title in 2003 with a success in another fine tournament.
2004
Angola won its fourth successive tournament, when they eventually defeated Zambia 5-4 in the final on penalties.
2005
The 2005 tournament saw a change in format, with a group phase that comprised of three pools, each containing four sides.
The top teams in each section met in a semi-final, with the winner advancing to the final of the pool.
The winners of the three groups then joined holders Angola in the semi-finals which, along with the final, were held in Mafikeng in South Africa.
Zimbabwe claimed their third title in the final, with a Chandida goal late on handing them a 1-0 victory over the Zambians.
2006
Zambia eased to a 2-0 victory over Angola as Dube Phiri and Chaswe Nsofwa were on target for them in the final.
2007
South Africa won the first of two successive titles in 2007, ending up victorious on home soil when they defeated Zambia 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out in the final.
2008
In that year the tournament ended with hosts South Africa lifting the coveted trophy for the second time in succession, and third time overall.
It was the first time the tournament had been played as a single event, in one country and over a period of weeks.
The final at the Thulamahashe Stadium was won 2-1 by South Africa against Mozambique, with Marchelino Fransch getting a brace.
Nito scored late on for the Mambas, but it was to be the home side's night.
2009
Zimbabwe claimed a record fourth title when they won on home soil in 2009.
The Warriors were worthy winners of the event that was staged in Harare and Bulawayo over two weeks.
Zimbabwe eventually triumphed Zambia 3-1 thanks to two goals from Nyasha Mushekwi and Cuthbert Malajila.
2013
Zambia emerged as winners in a tournament they hosted.
2015
The tournament was staged in South Africa's North West province and at long last produced a fifth different winner of the Cosafa Castle Cup as Namibia claimed a maiden triumph.
Namibia edged Madagascar 3-2 in a thrilling semi-final in which Benson Shilongo had them 2-0 up, before Sarivahy Vombola scored twice in two minutes to level for the Malagasy. Peter Shalulile grabbed a winner seven minutes from time.
Mozambique won the other semi-final 2-1 as Isac and Parkim scored for them against Botswana, for whom Omaatla Kebatho netted what proved to be a consolation.
Deon Hotto bagged a brace of goals in the final against Mozambique as Namibia triumphed 2-0, to set off wild scenes of celebration.
2016
Following their win the previous year, there was another 'first' for Namibia as they hosted the tournament as champions.
South Africa would join Zambia and Zimbabwe on four wins each as they defeated Botswana 3-2 in the final.
COSAFA MEDIA
Here is a brief trip down memory lane as we look at how the tournament has evolved.
1997
Zambia won the inaugural Cosafa Cup after they claimed the event with top spot in the tournament mini-league.
1998
The tournament saw the entry of South Africa and Angola for the first time.
South Africa lost 3-2 in the first round to Namibia, a first-ever win for the Brave Warriors over their neighbours.
Zambia again headed the table with eight points, followed by Zimbabwe (six), Angola (six), Namibia (five) and Mozambique (one).
1999
The third instalment of the competition was played for the first time as a knockout tournament from start to finish.
Namibia won their place in the final after beating South Africa and Swaziland and took on Angola.
The final was played over two legs, with the first in Luanda settled 1-0 in favour of Angola after a penalty from Betinho.
Eliphas Shivute brought Namibia level in the second leg in Windhoek, sending the tie into extra-time.
But a goal from Zico after 101 minutes handed Angola the first of their three titles to date.
2000
The fourth instalment of the cup saw Zimbabwe claim a first ever title, one of four they would go on to win to date.
An Eric Makara own goal and further strikes from William Mugeyi and Luke Petros gave Zimbabwe a 3-0 win over Zambia in Maseru, before they won by the same margin in Harare in the second game.
2001
The fifth instalment of the competition featured 11 Southern African countries and would again end in an Angolan victory.
2002
South Africa won a maiden title in 2002, a tournament that also featured Madagascar for the first time.
2003
Zimbabwe would claim their second Cosafa title in 2003 with a success in another fine tournament.
2004
Angola won its fourth successive tournament, when they eventually defeated Zambia 5-4 in the final on penalties.
2005
The 2005 tournament saw a change in format, with a group phase that comprised of three pools, each containing four sides.
The top teams in each section met in a semi-final, with the winner advancing to the final of the pool.
The winners of the three groups then joined holders Angola in the semi-finals which, along with the final, were held in Mafikeng in South Africa.
Zimbabwe claimed their third title in the final, with a Chandida goal late on handing them a 1-0 victory over the Zambians.
2006
Zambia eased to a 2-0 victory over Angola as Dube Phiri and Chaswe Nsofwa were on target for them in the final.
2007
South Africa won the first of two successive titles in 2007, ending up victorious on home soil when they defeated Zambia 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out in the final.
2008
In that year the tournament ended with hosts South Africa lifting the coveted trophy for the second time in succession, and third time overall.
It was the first time the tournament had been played as a single event, in one country and over a period of weeks.
The final at the Thulamahashe Stadium was won 2-1 by South Africa against Mozambique, with Marchelino Fransch getting a brace.
Nito scored late on for the Mambas, but it was to be the home side's night.
2009
Zimbabwe claimed a record fourth title when they won on home soil in 2009.
The Warriors were worthy winners of the event that was staged in Harare and Bulawayo over two weeks.
Zimbabwe eventually triumphed Zambia 3-1 thanks to two goals from Nyasha Mushekwi and Cuthbert Malajila.
2013
Zambia emerged as winners in a tournament they hosted.
2015
The tournament was staged in South Africa's North West province and at long last produced a fifth different winner of the Cosafa Castle Cup as Namibia claimed a maiden triumph.
Namibia edged Madagascar 3-2 in a thrilling semi-final in which Benson Shilongo had them 2-0 up, before Sarivahy Vombola scored twice in two minutes to level for the Malagasy. Peter Shalulile grabbed a winner seven minutes from time.
Mozambique won the other semi-final 2-1 as Isac and Parkim scored for them against Botswana, for whom Omaatla Kebatho netted what proved to be a consolation.
Deon Hotto bagged a brace of goals in the final against Mozambique as Namibia triumphed 2-0, to set off wild scenes of celebration.
2016
Following their win the previous year, there was another 'first' for Namibia as they hosted the tournament as champions.
South Africa would join Zambia and Zimbabwe on four wins each as they defeated Botswana 3-2 in the final.
COSAFA MEDIA
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