EN, FR, PR: Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique in winning starts at COSAFA U20 Qualifier
Namibia, Zambia and hosts Mozambique made winning starts to their campaigns at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier Mozambique 2026 on Friday as the battle for places at the continental finals got under way in Maputo.
Namibia edged Mauritius 1-0 in the opening Group A fixture at the Zimpeto Stadium before a late brace from Billy Daka handed record 12-time regional champions Zambia a 2-0 victory over Malawi in Group C.
Hosts Mozambique complete Friday’s programme when they defeated Seychelles 4-1 in the second Group A fixture at theZimpeto Stadium.
The 12-team competition runs until September 27, with the three pool winners and the best runner-up advancing to the semi-finals. The two finalists will qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2027.
Namibia made the perfect start as captain Lukas Sakeus scored the only goal of their clash with Mauritius in the 43rd minute.
The Young Warriors had been searching for the breakthrough in a tight opening period and found it just before the interval when Sakeus struck to put his side ahead.
Mauritius attempted to find a route back into the contest after the break, but Namibia held firm to secure all three points and an early advantage in Group A.
Namibia will next face hosts Mozambique on Sunday, while Mauritius will look to bounce back when they meet Seychelles earlier on the same day.
Zambia were made to work hard for their victory over Malawi, with the contest remaining goalless until the final 10 minutes.
The Junior Chipolopolo eventually found the breakthrough in the 80th minute when Daka struck to give them a 1-0 lead.
Malawi pushed for a way back into the contest, but Daka made the points safe eight minutes into stoppage-time with his second goal to complete a brace and seal a 2-0 victory.
The win was also a measure of revenge for Zambia after Malawi had beaten them 2-1 in the semi-finals of the 2025 regional championship in Namibia.
Mozambique fell behind early on against Seychelles as Eriano Rajabary put the visitors ahead.
But Mozambique’s quality shone through as Fanuel Macuácua equalised, and Alírio Cuna netted a brace. The cherry on top came with a fourth goal from Faizal Abdala.
Zambia have been the dominant nation in the history of the COSAFA Under-20 competition with 12 titles, but have not lifted the trophy since 2022 and will hope this opening victory provides the platform for another strong campaign.
Saturday brings another triple-header at the Zimpeto Stadium, with defending champions South Africa beginning their bid for a third successive regional crown when they face Lesotho in Group B at 12h00 CAT (10h00 GMT).
South Africa won the regional title in Mozambique in 2024 before successfully defending their crown in Namibia last year, when they defeated Malawi 3-0 in the final.
Angola and Eswatini meet in the second Group B fixture at 15h00 CAT (13h00 GMT).
Angola have been among the most consistent sides in the competition in recent years and reached the semi-finals again in 2025, while Eswatini will be eager to make a positive start as they seek a first knockout appearance since 2002.
Comoros and Botswana round off Saturday’s programme with their Group C clash at 18h00 CAT (16h00 GMT).
Matches will be streamed live for FREE on FIFA+, COSAFA’s YouTube channel and CAF TV. Matches will also be broadcast on TVM.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Group A – Zimpeto Stadium
Mauritius 0 Namibia 1 (Sakeus 43’)
Mozambique 4 (Macuácua 19’, Cuna 29’, 57’, Abdala 77’) Seychelles 1 (Rajabary 5’)
Group C – Zimpeto Stadium
Zambia 2 (Daka 80’, 90+8’) Malawi 0
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B – Zimpeto Stadium
South Africa vs Lesotho (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Angola vs Eswatini (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
Group C – Zimpeto Stadium
Comoros vs Botswana (KO 18h00; 16h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Mozambique | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Namibia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Mauritius | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Seychelles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lesotho | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Angola | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eswatini | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Comoros | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Botswana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malawi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches played: 3
Goals scored: 8
Goals-per-game: 2.67
Biggest victory: Mozambique 4 Seychelles 1 (Group A, September 18)
Most goals in a game: 5 – Mozambique 4 Seychelles 1 (Group A, September 18)
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Alírio Cuna (Mozambique), Billy Daka (Zambia)
1 – Faizal Abdala (Mozambique), Fanuel Macuácua (Mozambique), Eriano Rajabary (Seychelles), Lukas Sakeus (Namibia)
Le Mozambique et la Zambie déjà en forme
La journée inaugurale de la TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier a débuté sur les chapeaux de roues vendredi, offrant un festival offensif mémorable avec huit buts inscrits en seulement trois rencontres particulièrement intenses.
Dans le Groupe A, la jeune sélection du Mozambique s’est emparée de la toute première place du classement général en signant la plus large victoire de la journée face aux Seychelles sur le score sans appel de quatre buts à un. Pourtant, ce sont les Seychellois qui ont cueilli les Mambas à froid grâce à une ouverture du score très rapide d’Eriano Rajabary dès la quatrième minute de jeu.
Bousculé mais serein, le Mozambique a réagi avec force et caractère grâce à un doublé d’Alírio Cuna et des réalisations de Fanuel Macuácua et Faizal Abdalah. Dans le même groupe, la Namibie a assuré l’essentiel en s’imposant un but à zéro contre Maurice, grâce à une réalisation salvatrice de Lukas Sakeus, rejoignant ainsi la formation du Mozambique avec trois points au compteur. Du côté du Groupe C, la Zambie a parfaitement négocié son entrée en lice contre le Malawi avec un succès net de deux buts à zéro.
Les Chipolopolo juniors ont fait la différence en fin de partie grâce à leur attaquant en forme, Billy Daka, auteur d’un doublé décisif aux soixante-seizième et quatre-vingt-seizième minutes de la partie, propulsant son équipe seule en tête de sa poule. Après ce vendredi prolifique, le spectacle du football se poursuit ce samedi au ABB Stadium avec l’entrée en lice des favoris de la région et trois affiches cruciales pour le compte des Groupes B et C. Dès douze heures, l’Afrique du Sud affrontera le Lesotho pour un derby d’Afrique australe très attendu.
Les Amajita partent favoris mais devront se méfier d’une équipe du Lesotho toujours difficile à manœuvrer. À quinze heures, l’Angola fera ses débuts face à l’Eswatini avec la ferme intention de prendre immédiatement les commandes de ce Groupe B. Enfin, à dix-huit heures, les Comores et le Botswana fermeront la marche dans le Groupe C. Après le précieux succès de la Zambie hier, ces deux nations engagées n’ont déjà plus le droit à la moindre erreur pour espérer atteindre le dernier carré de la compétition.
Moçambique arranca a golear no Zimpeto
O apuramento para o Campeonato Africano das Nações (CAN) de sub-20 arrancou esta sexta-feira em Maputo, com a Taça COSAFA da categoria a oferecer, logo na jornada inaugural, um festim de oito golos em apenas três jogos. A prova, que decorre no Estádio Nacional do Zimpeto e termina a 27 de Setembro, funciona como qualificação regional da África Austral para a fase final continental que terá lugar em Gana. Criada para dinamizar as categorias de formação da região, a competição da COSAFA tornou-se, ao longo das últimas edições, uma montra de talento e uma porta de entrada para a elite do futebol africano.
A selecção anfitriã foi a grande figura do dia. No Grupo A, Moçambique impôs-se às Seychelles por 4-1, a vitória mais expressiva da ronda, e assumiu a liderança geral. O arranque, porém, não foi tranquilo: Eriano Rajabary adiantou os insulares logo aos 4 minutos, silenciando por instantes as bancadas. A resposta dos Mambinhas foi de carácter. FanuelMacuácua repôs a igualdade aos 19′, Alírio Cuna assinou um bis (28′ e 57′) e Faizal Abdalahfechou a contagem aos 77′, devolvendo serenidade e três pontos à equipa da casa.
Ainda no Grupo A, a Namíbia venceu as Maurícias por 1-0, com um golo decisivo de LukasSakeus, e igualou Moçambique nos três pontos — separando-os apenas a diferença de golos. No Grupo C, a Zâmbia estreou-se com um triunfo por 2-0 sobre o Malawi. Os jovens Chipolopolo resolveram a partida na reta final, graças a um bis do avançado Billy Daka, aos 76′ e já em tempo de compensação (90+6′), colocando os zambianos isolados no comando da poule.
O espectáculo prossegue este sábado com três desafios de peso e a entrada em cena de vários favoritos regionais. Às 12h00, a África do Sul defronta o Lesoto num aguardado dérbi austral. Os Amajita partem com o favoritismo, mas encontram um adversário sempre incómodo. Às 15h00, Angola faz a estreia diante de Eswatíni, com a clara intenção de assumir de imediato o comando do Grupo B. Às 18h00, Comores e Botswana encerram a jornada no Grupo C, num duelo já sem margem para erro: depois do triunfo zambiano, qualquer deslize pode comprometer o sonho de chegar ao último carré.
Cenários possíveis
O regulamento premeia os primeiros classificados de cada grupo, que seguem para as meias-finais. Por isso, cada ponto pesa desde o primeiro apito. No Grupo A, Moçambique e Namíbia deverão discutir a liderança de forma directa, com a diferença de golos a poder ditar sentenças; para as Seychelles e as Maurícias, a próxima jornada é já decisiva. No Grupo C, a Zâmbia ganhou vantagem, mas Comores e Botswana ainda podem relançar a corrida caso vençam este sábado. Angola, por seu lado, tem no jogo inaugural a oportunidade de dar o primeiro passo rumo às meias-finais de uma prova que, ano após ano, revela os grandes talentos do futebol jovem da região.
