Africa: Dates, location announced for WBSC Men’s, U-23 Softball World Cup qualifiers

Africa: Dates, location announced for WBSC Men’s, U-23 Softball World Cup qualifiers
12/01/2021
The WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Africa qualifier will take place in August following the qualifier for the inaugural U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup in June.

The African Baseball and Softball Association (ABSA) has announced the dates of the African Qualifiers for the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup and the WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup. Both events will be held in South Africa. The dates were confirmed by ABSA President Saber Jlajla, who sent an invitation letter to all African national federations.

The African qualifier for the inaugural U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup will be held at Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park, South Africa, from 24-27 June 2021, and will grant one spot in the global tournament.

The African continental qualifier for the next WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup will be played at the same venue from 25-29 August 2021, with the winner earning a ticket to the World Cup, which will be staged in Auckland, New Zealand, from 19-27 February 2022. Host South Africa will enter the continental event as the defending champions, after winning the African Championship in 2019, defeating Botswana, 4-2, in the final match. Lesotho finished third in the event, played at the Mbolekwa Sports Complex in Atteridgeville, South Africa.

Both tournaments were supposed to take place from 19-28 February but were postponed due to the increase in Covid-19 infections in South Africa.

National Federations/Teams have until 30 March to express interest in competing in the Softball World Cup African qualifiers, with participating teams to be officially announced following the deadline.