EN, FR, PR: Angola seal semifinal spot, Zambia bow out in U17 qualifiers
Angola became the first team into the semifinals of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 | COSAFA Qualifiers in Harare when they defeated Lesotho 5-0 in their Group C clash on Sunday.
The win leaves Angola top of the pool with six points with one round of matches to go, and while Lesotho can join them on that number, Angola would still lead on head-to-head.
Only the top team in each pool advances to the last-4, along with the best runner-up across the three groups.
A hat-trick from Paulo Luvumbo set Angola on their way, with Eliseu Francisco and Costantino Chianica were also on the scoresheet.
Botswana and Mauritius played to a 1-1 draw in the other game in the pool, a result that means neither side can reach the semifinals.
Marcus Koketso struck from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute to put Botswana ahead, but Paw Kee levelled for Mauritius just after the break on 52 minutes.
Defending champions Zambia and Madagascar bowed out of the competition after defeats in their second Group B matches at Hearts Stadium.
Zambia fell 2-1 to Malawi despite taking an early lead, while South Africa came from behind to thrash Madagascar 5–1. The results mean both Zambia and Madagascar are mathematically out of contention for the semifinals with one round of fixtures still to play.
South Africa and Malawi will now battle for top spot in the group.
The Amajimbos produced a ruthless performance against Madagascar. After William Rambeloson fired the islanders ahead in the 14th minute, South Africa equalised when VAR confirmed a penalty in the 25th minute, coolly converted by Mpho Molepo.
Thandanani Mhlongo then stole the show, putting South Africa ahead in the 30th minute and adding another in the 37th for a 3–1 halftime lead. After the break, Inganathi Simama struck in the 55th minute before Mhlongo completed his hat-trick in the 68th. Defender Zazi Qotoyi also had a goal disallowed.
In the earlier fixture, Zambia took the lead through Albert Kunda’s towering header in the 20th minute, but Malawi responded strongly. James Lumbe equalised on the half-hour mark before converting a penalty just before halftime to give his side a 2–1 advantage.
Zambia pressed for an equaliser after the break, but Malawi held firm to seal the win and eliminate the Junior Chipolopolo.
Group A concludes on Monday with everything to play for. Eswatini meet Mozambique at Hearts Stadium at 15h00 CAT (13h00 GMT), knowing only victory will keep them alive.
At the same time, hosts Zimbabwe play Comoros at Ngoni Mwos Stadium, also requiring a win to stand a chance of going through.
Comoros and Mozambique both have four points at the top of the pool, while Zimbabwe and Eswatini have one each. Victories for the latter two would leave all four teams on four points and head-to-head used to decide the winners.
All games will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow the action from this dedicated tournament page.
TOTALENERGIES CAF UNDER-17 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2026 | COSAFA QUALIFIER STATISTICS
SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Group B – Hearts Stadium
South Africa 5 (Molepo 26’pen, Mhlongo 31’, 38’, 69’pen, Simama 56’) Madagascar 1 (Rambeloson 15’)
Zambia 1 (Kunda 20′) Malawi 2 (Lumbe 30′, 45’pen)
Group C – Ngoni Mwos Stadium
Botswana 1 (Koketso 42’pen) Mauritius 1 (Kee 52’)
Angola 5 (Francisco 4’pen, Chianica 20’, Luvumbo 29’, 53’, 90’) Lesotho 0
MONDAY’S FIXTURES
Group A
Eswatini vs Mozambique (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT) – Hearts Stadium
Zimbabwe vs Comoros (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT) – Ngoni Mwos Stadium
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Comoros | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Mozambique | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Eswatini | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 1 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Malawi | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Madagascar | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 0 |
| Zambia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Angola (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 6 |
| Lesotho | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 |
| Mauritius | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 1 |
| Botswana | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 12
Goals scored: 38
Biggest victory: Angola 5 Botswana 0 (Group C, September 12); Angola 5 Lesotho 0 (Group C, September 14)
Most goals in a game: 5 – Mauritius 2 Lesotho 3 (Group C, September 12); Angola 5 Botswana 0 (Group C, September 12)
GOALSCORERS
4 goals – Thandanani Mhlongo (South Africa)
3 – James Lumbe (Malawi), Paulo Luvumbo (Angola)
2 – Pedro Antonio (Angola), Costantino Chianica (Angola), Paw Kee (Mauritius), Mpho Molepo (South Africa), William Rambeloson (Madagascar)
1 – Fasifdine Ahamada (Comoros), Mathis Ali (Comoros), Nicholas Fani (Mauritius), Eliseu Francisco (Angola), Marcus Koketso (Botswana), Albert Kunda (Zambia), Fisane Leanya (Lesotho), Lechesa Makhupane (Lesotho), Morena Masithela (Lesotho), Joel Maziya (Malawi), Fahad Mohamed (Comoros), Manuel Morais (Angola), Jairo Muanha (Angola), Chauson Nhabanga (Mozambique), Omphemetse Sekgoto (South Africa), Inganathi Simama (South Africa)
Own goals – Emmanuel Mbuti (Zambia), Irintsoa Rakotoharimalala (Madagascar)
Angola imparável nas meias-finais!
Angola voltou a brilhar na Qualificação da COSAFA para a Taça das Nações Africanas Sub-17 da TotalEnergies 2026. Depois do triunfo categórico por 5-0 frente ao Botswana na estreia, os “palaquinhas” repetiram a receita e golearam o Lesotho pelo mesmo resultado, assegurando desde já um lugar nas meias-finais e tornando-se a primeira seleção a garantir passagem para a fase a eliminar.
O grande protagonista do encontro foi Paulo Luvumbo, eleito melhor jogador em campo, autor de três golos que selaram uma exibição de luxo. Com este triunfo, Angola lidera o Grupo C com seis pontos, dez golos marcados e nenhum sofrido, confirmando o estatuto de candidata ao título. A fase de grupos encerra para os angolanos no dia 16 de Setembro, às 15h00, no Hearts Stadium, frente às Maurícias. No mesmo dia, o Lesotho, ainda com hipóteses de discutir a qualificação, enfrenta o Botswana.
Ainda no Grupo C, Botswana e Maurícias dividiram pontos ao empatarem 1-1, num jogo marcado pelas grandes penalidades convertidas por Marcus Koketso (42’) e Paw Kee (52’).
No Grupo B, a luta pela liderança está ao rubro. A África do Sul confirmou a sua força ofensiva ao bater Madagáscar por 5-1, enquanto o Malawi venceu a Zâmbia por 2-1. Com estes resultados, sul-africanos e malawianos somam seis pontos em dois jogos, preparando um confronto direto decisivo na terça-feira, também dia 16 de Setembro. No outro encontro, Zâmbia e Madagáscar procuram os primeiros pontos.
O Grupo A, por sua vez, continua equilibrado. Comores e Moçambique lideram com quatro pontos cada, seguidos por Zimbabwe e Eswatini, ambos ainda em busca da primeira vitória. A terceira jornada, agendada para esta segunda-feira, no Hearts Stadium, promete emoção: Eswatini enfrenta Moçambique às 12h00 e Zimbabwe mede forças com Comores às 15h00.
Segundo o regulamento, apenas os três primeiros classificados de cada grupo e o melhor segundo seguem para as meias-finais, agendadas para 18 de Setembro, no Ngoni Stadium. O líder do Grupo B enfrentará o vencedor do Grupo C (12h00), enquanto o campeão do Grupo A terá pela frente o melhor segundo (15h00). A final está marcada para 20 de Setembro, às 14h00, no mesmo recinto, antecedida pela disputa do terceiro lugar às 11h00.
Com Angola já de malas feitas para as meias-finais e a África do Sul e o Malawi em alta rotação, a prova começa a definir os protagonistas que poderão sonhar com um lugar no Campeonato Africano Sub-17 de 2026.
L’Afrique du Sud écrase Madagascar, l’Angola fait le show
La quatrième journée de la TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier 2026, jouée dimanche au Zimbabwe, a confirmé des dynamiques nettes dans chaque poule et offert son lot de buts, de répliques et de débats tactiques. Au Hearts Stadium, l’Afrique du Sud a offert un récital offensif face à Madagascar : un pion rapide de William pour les Malgaches (14’) a semblé promettre un match fermé, mais les Sud-Africains ont renversé la vapeur grâce à Molepo (27’) puis au triplé de Mhlongo (30’, 37’, 70’) et à la finition de Simana (56’) pour sceller un 5-1 sans appel. Cette démonstration propulse l’Afrique du Sud en tête du groupe B, tandis que Madagascar, balayée, voit sa quête de qualification se compliquer sérieusement.
Dans le même esprit de dimanche à Hearts, la Zambie, maladroite et peu inspirée, s’est inclinée 2-1 face au Malawi. Kunda avait pourtant ouvert le score pour la Zambie dès la 20e minute, mais Lumbe a répliqué vigoureusement, égalisant à la 30e minute puis offrant la victoire aux siens dans les arrêts de jeu de la première période (45+5’). Le Malawi prend ainsi place à la deuxième position du groupe B, posant un double défi à ses adversaires : solidité défensive et efficacité dans la zone de vérité.
Au Ngoni Mwos Stadium, la rencontre Botswana–Maurice s’est soldée par un 1-1 tendu. Koketso a donné l’avantage aux locaux à la 42e minute, mais Li Tien Kee a arraché l’égalisation pour Maurice à la 52e, résultat qui laisse les deux équipes en quête d’un premier succès concret et condamne le Botswana à compter sur la différence de buts favorablement moins avantageuse. Toujours au même stade, l’Angola a fait parler la poudre en infligeant un cinglant 5-0 au Lesotho : Francisco a lancé les hostilités (4’), Chianica a doublé la mise (20’), Luvumbo a signé un doublé (29’, 53’) et a scellé le score dans le temps additionnel (90’). L’attaque angolaise, fluide et percutante, conforte sa première place du groupe C avec une différence de buts impressionnante.
Les classements après cette quatrième journée dressent un tableau clair : l’Afrique du Sud et le Malawi dominent le groupe B à égalité de points, l’Angola écrase son groupe C et le Lesotho, malgré sa défaite lourde, reste en embuscade. Dans le groupe A, Comores et Mozambique mènent, tandis que Zimbabwe et Eswatini cherchent des réponses locales avant la suite. Le programme de lundi mettra à l’épreuve Eswatini contre Mozambique au Hearts Stadium et Zimbabwe contre Comores au Ngoni Mwos Stadium, des affiches qui promettent des phases de qualification encore plus serrées. Les espoirs se construisent match après match; à ce stade de la compétition, la maîtrise des temps forts et la capacité à convertir les occasions font la différence entre rêve et élimination prématurée.
