By Chisomo Phiri
The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has appointed Malawian private practice lawyer Noel Chalamanda as chairperson of its Appeals Committee ahead of the regional football body’s elective Annual General Assembly(AGA ).
The appointment comes as COSAFA prepares for its elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for May 16,2026 where key leadership positions are expected to be contested.
In a letter signed by COSAFA Executive Director (ED) Sue Destombes, the regional football governing body says Chalamanda, together with other newly appointed members, will attend their first committee meeting on Tuesday.
Chalamanda, who previously served as Mayor of Blantyre City, confirmed in an interview with local media that he has accepted the role.
He said he is honoured to take up the position at a critical time for the regional football body.
“I am truly honoured to chair the COSAFA Appeals Committee, especially at such a pivotal moment. My focus is clear: to ensure a fair, transparent and credible election process that upholds the highest standards of integrity,” said Chalamanda.
He added that he looks forward to working openly with stakeholders and handling any appeals with impartiality and respect for established rules.
“This is a chance for us to shine—showcasing professionalism and unity while making both Malawi and Cosafa proud,” he said.
Chalamanda further said he is ready to contribute to strengthening governance standards in regional football administration.
COSAFA is a regional football body that oversees the development and administration of the game in Southern Africa.
The organization was founded in 1997 and operates as a zonal union of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
COSAFA brings together 14 member associations from the Southern African region, including Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Lesotho, Eswatini, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros.
Its main objective is to promote football development in the region through competitions, governance support, and youth development programmes.
The organization’s flagship competition is the COSAFA Cup, an annual regional tournament featuring senior national teams from member countries.
Besides organising competitions, COSAFA also works to strengthen football administration, refereeing standards, and grassroots development across Southern Africa.
