The Council of Southern African Football Association (Cosafa) on Thursday confirmed that it had cancelled its senior men’s tournament for 2020.

South African government has re-opened borders to African countries and confirmed that international sporting events may take place. But the Cosafa considers the preparation time too little to utilise the October Fifa International window.

It however expressed the hope that it will still be able to host four other tournaments this year. The body issued a press release on Thursday afternoon naming the competitions that are still to take place.

“Cosafa remains optimistic of hosting four of its six scheduled tournaments in 2020. A year that has seen the football calendar severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The organisation has been working feverishly behind the scenes to prepare for its events. But remains reliant on the green light from governments across the region.

The Cosafa Women’s Championship in South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Bay is now pencilled in for November 3-14…The Cosafa Women’s u17 Championship is also scheduled be staged in Nelson Mandela Bay concurrently…And the Cosafa Men’s u17 Championship is pencilled in to be played in South Africa from November 19-29. With the host city still to be determined…The Cosafa Men’s u20 Championship will now take place in South Africa from December 3-13.”

And Cosafa general secretary, Sue Destombes to reassure. “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes during the Covid-19 pandemic to try and realise our goals of hosting these events to continue our mandate of developing Southern African football on and off the pitch.”