World football governing body FIFA has officially revealed how much the organisation pays COSAFA every year for the running of tournaments.
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The COSAFA Women's Championship recently came to an end in Gauteng, South Africa, with Malawi being crowned competition winners for the first time in their history after defeating African giants and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup debutants Zambia in the final.
As a result of the lack of professionalism within the women's game in Africa, continental competitions such as the abovementioned provide women with the opportunity to pit themselves against some of the best in the game.
Initiatives such as these have a major helping hand from FIFA, though, and following the conclusion of the COSAFA showpiece, the Zurich-based institution revealed that it provides $1.25 million (R23.9 million) annually to COSAFA to put together such tournaments.
Initially, the amount was $1 million (R19.9 million), but an additional $250 000 (R4.7 million) was added this year as FIFA continue to help uplift football in Africa.
"COSAFA is very happy with the year-on-year improvement in the level of play. This year we have seen a marked improvement by Malawi and Mozambique, as well as Eswatini and Lesotho," COSAFA secretary-general Sue Destombes said, as per FIFA's official website.
"This development is largely due to FIFA's Forward grant to the Zonal Unions and the ability to organise consistent annual tournaments."
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Not only did the FIFA Forward zonal money help fund the COSAFA Women's Championship, but it also aided in funding the COSAFA qualifying tournament for the CAF Women's Champions League.
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