Mozambique and Malawi played to a 1-1 draw in a tightly-contested match on the opening day of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier played at the University of Johannesburg’s AW Muller Stadium, while Angola defeated Lesotho 2-1 at the same venue to go top of the group.
Both Mozambique and Malawi mostly penetrated through the flanks. Additionally, both teams’ defenders played long passes behind the defensive lines to try create scoring opportunities.
However, Malawi have only themselves to blame as they got numerous set-pieces to take the lead in the first half but they could not score. In the 45th minute in the first half, Mozambique took the lead through an unmarked Gift Chibala who scored from inside the goal area.
In search of an equalizer, Malawi players went forward in numbers but struggled to penetrate as Mozambique played deep in their half to protect their lead. Malawi’s substitute Thole Sachenja tried hard with his speed to play in tight spaces so that he could take shots at goal but Mozambique remained resolute although in some instances, they were porous.
In the last seven minute, Malawi’s Hassan Madula hit the post with his low shot. Immediately after, Malawi got a free kick but goalkeeper Carlos Antonio palmed the ball and denied them a goal. However, Malawi equalized in the 90th minute through Bena Quissime who unleashed a thunderous shot to level matters.
In the earlier match, in terms of scoring opportunities created, Angola were the better side in the first half with the speedy Eliseu Francisco troubling Lesotho with his dribbling skills. Francisco scored in the 31st minute when he pounced on the poor clearance to give Angola the lead. Angola kept piling pressure on Lesotho but they could double their lead in the first half despite dominating the game.
To neutralize Angola, Lesotho’s coach made substitutions both in the first and second halves. Lesotho were rejuvenated as there was mobility in the midfield and they got into the final third frequently.
In the 78th minute, the towering attacking midfielder, Dansel Liyun, scored a beautiful header from a corner to increase Angola’s lead.
However, Rethabile Nqoko of Lesotho scored four minutes later to reduce the deficit after taking advantage of the mistake made by one of Angola’s defenders. After this goal, Lesotho put Angola under immense pressure towards the end of the match but could not equalize
The action continues on Thursday with the opening games in Groups B and C.
All games will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow the action from this dedicated tournament page.
Debutants Lesotho grabbed pole position in Group A after defeating fellow newcomers Eswatini 6-0 in the opening match of the 2024 COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championships.
Lesotho showed intention and dominance early from the first whistle on a very hot day. Ntsamaeng Tholo scored a first half hat-trick, with Itumeleng Phiri adding the other goal to give the side a 4-0 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Lesotho waste chances in front of goal, only getting two more goals from the assister of the first goal Boiketlo Molise and captain Tebello Lesala contributing the sixth goal.
The score could have been higher for the girls from the mountain Kingdom as they had a goal in the first half disallowed.
In the second game in the group between Mozambique and Comoros, the former took an early lead through Teresa Gogolo from the penalty spot. Gogolo who was named player of the match completed a brace scoring her side’s third goal. There were goals for Ana Armando and Victoria Tennyson, with Judite Cumbi getting the last one late in the game.
This means Lesotho sit at the top of the log with three points and a better goal difference followed by Mozambique, Comoros is third with no points while Eswatini are bottom of the group, also with no points.
Day two sees the defending champions South Africa open their account against Malawi at UJ Auckland Park at 09h00, and Namibia and Madagascar in a second Group B fixture at Soweto at 11h00. The opening game in Group C will be between Zimbabwe and Mauritius at 14h00.
The top teams from the three pools and the best runner-up from all the groups will progress to the semi-finals.
TOTALENERGIES U-17 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2025 | COSAFA QUALIFIER STATISTICS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Group A
Lesotho 1 (Nqoko 84′) Angola 2 (Francisco 32′, Liyun 78′)
Mozambique 1 (Lino 45’) Malawi 1 (Chisale 90’)
THURSDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B – UJ Soweto Stadium
Zimbabwe vs Eswatini (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Zambia vs Namibia (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
Group C – UJ AW Muller Stadium
Comoros vs Mauritius (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
South Africa vs Botswana (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Angola | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Malawi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mozambique | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Lesotho | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Eswatini | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Namibia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zambia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zimbabwe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Botswana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Comoros | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mauritius | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 2
Goals scored: 5
Biggest victory: Lesotho 1 Angola 2 (Group Stages, December 4)
Most goals in a game: 3 – Lesotho 1 Angola 2 (Group Stages, December 4)
GOALSCORERS
1 goal – Clifford Chisale (Malawi), Eliseu Francisco (Angola), Killo Lino (Mozambique), Densel Liyun (Angola), Rethabile Nqoko (Lesotho)
2024 GIRLS UNDER-17 COSAFA CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Group A
Eswatini 0 Lesotho 6 (Tholo 24′, 35′, 43′, Phiri 23′, Molise 63′, Lesala 82′)
Mozambique 5 (Gogolo 5’pen, 59′, Tennyson 48′, Armando 65′, Cumbi 86′) Comoros 0
THURSDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B – UJ AW Muller Stadium
South Africa vs Malawi (KO 09h00; 07h00 GMT)
Group B – UJ B Soweto Stadium
Namibia vs Madagascar (KO 11h00; 09h00 GMT)
Group C – UJ B Soweto Stadium
Zimbabwe vs Mauritius (KO 14h00; 12h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Lesotho | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| Mozambique | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Comoros | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
| Eswatini | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Madagascar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malawi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Namibia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Botswana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mauritius | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zambia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zimbabwe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 2
Goals scored: 11
Biggest victory: Eswatini 0 Lesotho 6 (Group Stages, December 4)
Most goals in a game: 6 – Eswatini 0 Lesotho 6 (Group Stages, December 4)
GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Ntsamaeng Tholo (Lesotho)
2 – Teresa Gogolo (Mozambique)
1 – Ana Armando (Mozambique), Judite Cumbi (Mozambique), Tebello Lesala (Lesotho), Boiketlo Molise (Lesotho), Itumeleng Phiri (Lesotho), Victoria Tennyson
L’Angola et le Lesotho sereins
Il n’y a pas eu de vainqueur ni de vaincu dans le choc tant attendu entre le Mozambique et le Malawi. Les deux formations se sont quittées sur le score de 1-1. Pourtant, tout avait bien démarré pour les Mozambicains qui ont ouvert le score très tôt dans ce match. En effet, Lino a profité d’un moment d’inattention de la défense du Malawi pour se frayer un chemin vers le but. Mais dans cette rencontre, tout a été une question de précocité. Ainsi après cette ouverture après moins de 10 minutes d’engagement, Chisale devait permettre aux Flames de recoller au score à la 14e minute.
Dans le premier match, l’Angola s’est imposé d’une courte tête face au Lesotho (2-1). Eliseu Francisco a ouvert le score pour les Angolais avant d’être imité par Densel Morais. La réduction du score par Rethabile Nquoko n’a pas été suffisante pour engranger les trois points
Les filles ont, elles, cartonné avec deux larges succès. Le Lesotho est venu à bout de l’Eswatini sur le score de 6-0 grâce à un triplé de Tholo alors que le Mozambique n’a jamais été inquiété par les Comores et s’est tranquillement imposé 5-0.
Ce jeudi, sept rencontres sont au programme, à savoir quatre au tableau masculin et trois au tableau féminin. Chez les garçons, le Zimbabwe croisera le fer avec l’Eswatini. Sur le papier, ce sont les Zimbabwéens qui partent largement favoris. Ils tenteront de démarrer idéalement la compétition sur une victoire, histoire de se mettre en confiance. L’Eswatini devra faire preuve de vigilance tout au long de cette joute.
On s’attend à un choc entre la Zambie et la Namibie à 15h. Cette rencontre s’insère dans le groupe B également. Les Zambiens sont un peu les grands favoris de la compétition. Ils ont les armes et les joueurs pour aller jusqu’au bout. La présence des Namibiens comme premiers adversaire dans cette poule sera un bon test. Dans le groupe C, les Comores affronteront Maurice à 12h. Ce duel de l’océan Indien parait équilibré sur le papier. Enfin, l’Afrique du Sud s’attend à effectuer de bons débuts contre le Botswana.
Chez les filles, l’Afrique du Sud ouvrira les hostilités contre le Malawi dans un match qui s’annonce tendue. En effet, ces dernières années, les Malawites ont énormément progressé dans la région et seront des adversaires à surveiller. Madagascar, dont l’équipe A n’a pas été ridicule lors de la COSAFA Women’s Championship, tentera également de rendre une belle carte dans son groupe. Les Malgaches démarrent contre la Namibie. Le Zimbabwe part avec les faveurs des pronostics contre Maurice à 14h.
Angola, Lesotho e Moçambique destacam-se na estreia!
No aguardado confronto entre Moçambique e Malawi, não houve nem vencedores nem vencidos. As duas equipas terminaram empatadas a 1-1. No entanto, os moçambicanos começaram bem, abrindo o marcador cedo no jogo.
Lino aproveitou um momento de desatenção da defesa do Malawi para marcar. Mas neste encontro, a chave foi a rapidez. Assim, após esta abertura com menos de 10 minutos decorridos, Chisale permitiu aos Flames igualar o marcador ao minuto 14.
No primeiro jogo, Angola venceu por uma margem reduzida Lesoto (2-1). Eliseu Francisco marcou o primeiro golo para os angolanos, seguido por Densel Morais. O golo de redução de Rethabile Nquoko não foi suficiente para garantir os três pontos.
As equipas femininas destacaram-se com duas vitórias expressivas. Lesoto venceu Eswatini por 6-0, com um hat-trick de Tholo, enquanto Moçambique não teve dificuldades contra as Comores e venceu tranquilamente por 5-0.
Esta quinta-feira, estão agendados sete jogos, quatro no quadro masculino e três no feminino. Nos jogos masculinos, o Zimbabwe enfrentará Eswatini. No papel, os zimbabueanos são os claros favoritos. Tentarão iniciar a competição com uma vitória, para ganhar confiança. Eswatini terá de estar vigilante durante todo o jogo.
Espera-se um confronto entre Zâmbia e Namíbia às 15h. Este jogo também faz parte do Grupo B. Os zambianos são considerados os favoritos da competição. Têm as armas e os jogadores para chegar até ao fim. A presença da Namíbia como primeiro adversário nesta fase será um bom teste. No Grupo C, as Comores enfrentarão a Maurícia às 12h. Este duelo do Oceano Índico parece equilibrado no papel. Finalmente, a África do Sul espera um bom começo contra o Botswana.
No lado feminino, a África do Sul iniciará contra o Malawi num jogo que se prevê tenso. Nos últimos anos, as malawitas progrediram imenso na região e serão adversárias a ter em conta. Madagascar, cuja equipa A não foi ridícula no Campeonato Feminino da COSAFA, também tentará fazer uma boa exibição no seu grupo. As malgaxes começam contra a Namíbia. O Zimbabwe é o favorito contra a Maurícia às 14h.
