The HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup 2023 draw has been announced, revealing an exciting new format for the competition, set to take place in Durban from July 5-16. Defending champions Zambia find themselves in a challenging Group B, where they will face off against Malawi, Seychelles, and Comoros. The top team from each pool will progress to the semifinals, along with the best-placed runner-up, leaving little room for error. Hosts South Africa have been drawn into a tough Group of Death, alongside last year's runners-up Namibia, Eswatini, and Botswana, who reached the finals in 2016 and 2019. Group C also promises intense competition with Mozambique, Angola, Mauritius, and Lesotho battling it out. HOLLYWOODBETS has returned as the title sponsor for the COSAFA Cup, as well as the upcoming 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship and 2023 COSAFA Women's Champions League. The matches in Durban will commence on July 5 and continue until July 12, with the semifinals scheduled for July 14 and the final, along with the third-place play-off, to be held at the King Zwelithini Stadium just two days later. This year's edition deviates from the previous format, eliminating the quarterfinal stage and the Plate competition. The new structure guarantees each country a minimum of three games, with a maximum of five, providing adequate rest periods between most pool matches to prioritize player welfare. Throughout the COSAFA Cup's history, only five nations have secured the coveted trophy, with Zimbabwe and Zambia leading the pack with six wins each, followed by South Africa (five), Angola (three), and Namibia (one).