Flames captain John Lanjesi believes they can make it past the group stages of this year’s Council of Southern Africa Football Associations – Cosafa Cup after three failed attempts.
The Flames have been drawn in Group B alongside Mozambique, Namibia and Seychelles.
The group winners will qualify for the quarter-finals to face Zambia’s Chipolopolo.
This follows a draw held in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday evening.
The regional showpiece is slated for Durban in the Rainbow nation from May 25 to June 8.
“It is disappointing that we could not make it past the group stages in the past three editions.
“But I believe that going by our performance in recent games, especially against Morocco and Cameroon, we have the potential to cast that spell,” said Lanjesi.
He, however, acknowledged that it will not be easy.
“It will also depend on our commitment and self-belief,” he said.
Coach Meke Mwase described the group as fair and tricky at the same time.
“Tricky in the sense that at times, we have struggled against teams like Mozambique and Namibia.
“So, on paper it might look fair, but realistically it could be tough as well,” he said.
Mwase said as a first step, the Flames should be targeting the quarter-finals.
Group A has Angola, e-Swatini (formerly Swsziland), Comoros and Mauritius.
The winner of that group will face Zimbabwe’s Warriors.
The other quarterfinal contests will involve Lesotho and guest side Uganda while hosts South Africa’s Bafana Bafana date Lesotho.
