The draw has been made for the inaugural COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship to be held in Seychelles from Thursday this week with Malawi drawn against Mauritius and host Seychelles in Group A
The six-team competition, which will see United Arab Emirates club side Al Ahli compete, is an exciting new addition to the COSAFA calendar and comes just day before the CAF Beach Soccer Championship being played at the same venue.
Group B sees South Africa, Madagascar and Al Ahli compete.
The opening game of the competition on Thursday sees Al Ahli play Madagascar at 09h00 local time (05h00 GMT), with Mauritius tackling Malawi an hour later.
The action resumes in the afternoon when South Africa take on the loser of the first clash in Group B at 16h00 (12h00 GMT).
An hour later, Seychelles take on the loser from the first game in Group A between Mauritius and Malawi.
There will be to matches on Friday afternoon when South Africa play the winner of the clash between Madagascar and Al Ahli at 16h00 local time, and Seychelles tackle the victor of the game between Mauritius and Malawi an hour later.
The finals series will be played on Saturday when the places will be determined for the competition.
The third-placed sides in Groups A & B will battle it out for fifth position with that game starting at 15h00 local time (11h00 GMT).
The runners-up in each pool then play-off for third at 16h00, before the top teams clash for the honour of being the inaugural COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship winners at 17h00.
If two teams finish on the same number of points in the pool stage, they will first be separated by goal-difference. If that does not break the tie it will then go down to goals scored, red cards and finally a drawing of lots.
