The COSAFA Women’s Championship reigning champions Zambia have been drawn in Group B alongside 2008 finalists Angola and Mozambique, who will be competing just for the second time in their history.
Comoros is the other team in the group, as they will be making their fourth appearance at the competition.
The Copper Queens will be aiming to win the competition back-to-back, having won the 2022 edition after beating South Africa 1-0 courtesy of a Barbra Banda strike.
Hosts South Africa, who are searching for their eighth title, have been drawn in Group A. They have been pitted against Madagascar, Malawi, and Eswatini.
Meanwhile, Group C sees the return of Zimbabwe after serving a FIFA suspension.
Zimbabwe has been placed in the same group as Namibia, Lesotho, and 2020 finalist Botswana.
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The winners of each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the second-best team from each of the three groups rounding out the final four.
The tournament will take place between October 4 and 15 in Gauteng, South Africa.
If the Copper Queens defend their title, they will be only the second team after Banyana Banyana to do so.
Zambia will also be the first country in competition history to defend both the women’s and men’s championships.