Regulations for the COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship

The COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship will be staged in Windhoek, Namibia from May 10-17, where the nine competing teams have been drawn into three groups, each containing three sides.
The regulations for the competition can be found below.

FORMAT
The top team in each pool advances to the semifinals along with the best-placed runner-up. The winner of Group B will play the top team in Group C, while the winner of Group A takes on the best runner-up. However, should the second-placed team come from Group A, the fixtures will be as follows: Winner of Group A vs Winner of Group C and Winner of Group B vs Best 2nd Place (A).

EXTRA-TIME/PENALTIES
There will be no extra-time played in the semifinals or final. Tied matches will go straight to penalties.

DECIDING GROUP PLACES
Should two teams finish on the same number of points in the pool phase, they will be separated by
(a) Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the teams concerned.
(b) Goal-difference resulting from all group matches.
(c) Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches.
(d) A Fair Play points system in which the number of yellow and red cards are evaluated.
(e) Failing that there will be the drawing of lots.

Should more than two sides finish level on points, the following criteria is used:
(a) The greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams concerned.
(b) The goal difference in the matches between the teams concerned.
(c) The greatest number of goals scored in the matches between the teams concerned.

(d) If after applying criteria a to c, two teams are still equal, the criteria are again applied to matches played between the two teams in question to determine the final ranking of the two teams.

If this procedure does not classify them, the criteria listed below will be applied in the indicated order:
(a) The goal difference in all group matches.
(b) The highest number of goals scored in all group matches.
(c) Fair Play point system.
(d) The drawing of lots.

DETERMINING THE BEST RUNNER-UP
The best runner-up across the three groups will be determined as follows:
(a) The higher number of points the teams concerned obtained in their group matches.
(b) The superior goal difference of the teams concerned.
(c) The higher number of goals the teams concerned.
(d) A Fair Play points of the teams concerned in terms of yellow or red cards accumulated in the pool phase.

YELLOW/RED CARDS
If a player receives two yellow cards in the tournament, they will be suspended for one match. However, bookings picked up in the group phase fall away ahead of the knockout phase, unless they receive a second yellow card in the final pool stage game, in which case the suspension is carried over.

If a player receives a red card in a game, they will also serve a one-match suspension. If a player receives two red cards in the tournament, they will be suspended for the remainder of the competition and play no further part.