Regulations for the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025

The HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 gets under way on Wednesday, with the final to be staged on March 1 in Polokwane.

With 11 teams in the competition, they have been split into three groups: two with four teams and one with three.

With the tournament almost upon us, we give you a recap of the regulations so you can be in the know about the format of the competition.

Deciding group standings
Group standings are decided in the first instance by the number of points a team has obtained in all games.

If two teams are level on points, then the first tie-breaker is the number of points obtained in matches between them, i.e. the head-to-head rule.

After that it is down to the goal difference in the matches between the teams concerned, and then the greatest number of goals scored in all the matches between the teams.

If they still cannot be separated, then the following are applied in this order until there is a clear front-runner:

• The goal difference in all group matches
• A Fair Play system based on the number of yellow and red cards obtained by each team. One point is allocated to a team per yellow card and two per red. The team with the fewest points advances
• A drawing of lots conducted by the Organising Committee

If more than two teams finish on the same number of points, then the following is applied:

• The greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams concerned
• The goal difference in the matches between the teams concerned
• The greatest number of goals scored in the matches between the teams concerned

If, after applying these criteria, two teams are still equal, the criteria are again applied to matches played between the two teams in question to determine the final ranking. If this procedure does not allow classifying them, the criteria listed below will be applied in this order:

• The goal difference in all group matches
• The highest number of goals scored in all group matches
• A Fair Play system based on the number of yellow and red cards obtained by each team
• A drawing of lots conducted by the Organising Committee

Determining best runner-up
As Groups A and B have four teams and Group C only three, in order to fairly determine the best runner-up, the results against the last-placed sides in Groups A and B will be discarded.

That means for this calculation, all second-place teams will be evaluated on two matches played, with the side that has the most points in the first instance — or goal difference, goals scored, Fair Play or drawing of lots thereafter.

Semi-final line-up
The semi-final line-up will be as follows:

• Winner Group A vs Best Runner-Up
• Winner Group B vs Winner Group C

However, should the best runner-up also come from Group A, the fixtures will be as follows:

• Winner Group B vs Best Runner-Up
• Winner Group A vs Winner Group C

Extra time/penalties
Only the final will have extra time. If teams are level after 90 minutes in the semi-finals, the contest will go straight to post-match penalties to determine a winner.

Disciplinary
If a player collects two yellow cards at the tournament, they are automatically suspended for the next game. A player sent off will also automatically miss the next game.

However, yellow cards fall away at the completion of the group phase, with the exception of a second caution being given in the last match of the pool phase, which will attract a suspension for the next match. Red cards do not fall away.

Squad sizes up to 23 players
Teams will be able to select a squad of 23 players for the tournament, which is in line with international competitions such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Teams can also bring seven officials.

Number of substitutes
Teams can make up to five substitutions in a game, though these can only be made at a maximum of three different intervals.

This gives coaches a greater chance to sway the game with tactics, while for players it potentially helps to limit the physical strain on them.

Coach licences
Each team must appoint at least one head coach and one assistant coach for the tournament.

Head coaches must have a CAF Pro, A or B licence to be able to sit on the bench. Assistant coaches can have a CAF C licence. The technical team must be a minimum of 50% female.