2013 Lesotho Cosafa U20 confirmations swell

South Africa and Namibia have confirmed their participation in the COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships to be held in Lesotho from December 3-14.

According to a statement issued by COSAFA, the duo submitted their decision to participate on Friday, the deadline for countries to confirm they will take part in the prestigious junior tournament.

Zambia are the current holders of the COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships having triumphed in the previous event staged in Botswana in 2011.

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) have also tentatively expressed their desire to compete, though that decision must still be ratified by the FAM executive.

Earlier, hosts Lesotho, Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe all submitted their entries.

The draw for the first round group stages at the competition has also been confirmed for Maseru on Friday, October 11.

This year’s tournament will be played across two venues – Maseru and Mafeteng– with a round-robin group stage featuring four pools.