Staff Writer 
Following the participation of six Southern African countries at the 2025/26 AFCON in Morocco, the Mukuru Four Nations Tournament has been hailed as the perfect next step to sustain that momentum.
The qualification of Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, and Zambia for the previous AFCON edition demonstrated the considerable progress of football within the region.
The Mukuru Four Nations Tournament, starting in Francistown this weekend, will feature three of those finalists: hosts Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with Malawi completing what promises to be an exciting tournament. The final is set for Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
Mukuru’s Head of Brand & Product Marketing, Rhett Delaney, emphasised the fintech giant’s commitment to sustaining Southern Africa’s rich vein of form.
“As you know, three of these countries, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia, recently competed at the AFCON finals in Morocco. Mukuru takes great pride in this milestone, not only as a moment of achievement, but as a reflection of the region’s growing football potential,” Delaney said.
“Building on this momentum, Mukuru is committed to playing a meaningful developmental role by supporting the continued growth of football across the SADC region, investing in opportunities that nurture talent, strengthen competition and elevate the game at all levels.”
Malawian international Limbikani Mzava believes the Mukuru Four Nations Tournament will serve as vital preparation for the next cycle of AFCON qualifiers.
“This tournament serves as vital preparation for SADC teams ahead of the upcoming AFCON qualifiers,” said the former AmaZulu defender.
“It’s an important step in building on the momentum from the last Africa Cup of Nations, where six SADC nations qualified. It also provides a valuable platform for players to showcase their talent and attract the attention of scouts.”
Mukuru has a strong track record of supporting sport across the region and internationally.
From partnerships with Crystal Palace in the UK to grassroots and national-level support like Mighty Wanderers in Malawi, Zimbabwe Cricket, Malawi Under-21 Netball, and athletes like Temba Bavuma.
“Our focus has always been on connecting with communities through sport. Football, in particular, is a powerful unifier across our markets,” explained Delaney.
He stressed that, as SADC’s biggest financial services company, Mukuru’s objective is to support a platform that brings Southern Africa together through football.
“The four countries involved (Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi) are all key markets for Mukuru, so this tournament allows us to engage meaningfully with our customers in a space they are passionate about.”
Delaney further revealed that they are entering into an initial two-year partnership, with the option to extend further.
“Our intention is to help build this into a sustainable, long-term regional tournament,” he said.
The tournament is even more significant for Botswana.
“We are also aware that Botswana has expressed interest in jointly hosting the AFCON with South Africa, and events of this nature provide a valuable opportunity to assess their readiness and capacity to stage a tournament of such magnitude,” said Delaney.
