Technical Study Groups (TSGs) are becoming a vital and valued part of coaching as they look beyond the scorelines to examine trends, tactics, player development and the bigger lessons the game is teaching us.

In Africa, and very much the COSAFA region too, that role has become increasingly important as the continent’s football continues to evolve at every level.

TSGs help federations, coaches and development structures understand not only what is happening in major competitions, but why it is happening.

They turn matches into learning tools and provide insight that can influence everything from youth development to senior national team performance.

In this episode of The COSAFA Show, we take a closer look at the value of TSGs, with a special focus on the Southern African region, by talking to the people involved in them.

Namibia made history with a maiden title at the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 after they defeated hosts South Africa 2-1 in the final in Polokwane on Sunday.

It was a solid campaign throughout from Namibia, who got their revenge some 20 years after South Africa beat them in the 2006 decider.

All teams would have taken much from the tournament, where they were able to fine-tune their squads and look at players who might previously have been on the fringes of selection.

On this episode of the COSAFA Show, we hear from victorious Namibia coach Lesley Kavuka and South Africa’s Dr Desiree Ellis as they assess the final, and the campaign as a whole.

The 2026 COSAFA Women’s Championship takes centre stage in South Africa from 18 February to 1 March, and The COSAFA Show is right at the heart of the conversation.

With the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 fast approaching, the tournament could hardly come at a better time, offering the region’s leading sides the perfect competitive platform to prepare.

For South Africa, Zambia and Malawi, it is a vital opportunity to sharpen their edge and build momentum ahead of a demanding continental campaign.

The TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON will be staged in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April, with far more than continental pride on the line.

The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, raising the stakes significantly for teams with global ambitions. For the three COSAFA representatives, this regional championship is not just preparation, it marks the beginning of a challenging journey toward the global finals.

In this episode of The COSAFA Show Podcast, we unpack why the COSAFA Women’s Championship has become such a crucial fixture on the women’s football calendar and what it means for player development, competitiveness and confidence heading into TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON.

We are joined by COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes, who shares insight into the vision behind the tournament, its growing impact in the region, and what else is in the pipeline for COSAFA women’s football in 2026 and beyond.