The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) boss Ashford Mamelodi has admitted that the game of football in Southern Africa has some catching up to do to reach the football standards of North and West Africa.

The admission came in the wake of the losses of Southern African teams (Angola, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe) to counterparts in their opening matches of the ongoing 25th African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt.

Angola's Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes) were beaten 3-1 by Cameroon's Indomitable Lions on Saturday, Zambia's Chipolopolo were thrashed 4-1 by defending champions Tunisia's Carthage Eagles, South Africa's Bafana Bafana went down 2-0 to Guinea's Syli National on Sunday, while on Monday Zimbabwe's Warriors lost 2-0 to Senegal's Lions of Teranga.

"It is very disappointing because first games are always crucial. Usually when you win the first game, it gives you the fighting spirit to fight on and on," said Mamelodi in a telephone interview from South Africa with the Malawi Nation newspaper.

The Cosafa secretary general said the results confirmed that the region lagged behind North and West Africa in football standards.

But he added: "The biggest advantage that our friends from North and West Africa have is that they are exposed to top leagues overseas. They have world class players in their teams.

"But having said that, let me also point out here that the tournament has just started and things may take a turn for the better in the coming games."

Football Association of Malawi general secretary Yasin Osman also described the situation of Southern African teams in Egypt was worrying.

"It is quite disappointing but I am not surprised because of the gap in class. Our friends from West and North Africa invest a lot in football as compared to most of the countries in the Southern Africa region," Osman said.

"Perhaps the other factor is that most of the teams from this region are building new teams like Zambia and Angola. Zambia could not stand the heat against Tunisia because they are a predominantly new side that took on an experienced and talented team. So it was men against boys" said Osman.

However, Osman said he was optimistic that teams from the region would do well in the coming games.