EN, FR, PR: South Africa, Angola book semi-final places in Mangaung
South Africa and defending champions Angola have booked their semi-final places at the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup 2025 after a bumper four matches were played in Mangaung | Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
South Africa’s nervy 0-0 draw with Mauritius was enough to see them top Group A, with a helping hand from Zimbabwe, while Angola defeated Malawi to finish top of Group B.
South Africa now await the winner of Group D in the last-4, while Angola will clash with the top side in Group C. Both those pools will be completed on Wednesday.
South Africa advanced to the semi-finals after they topped their pool on goal-difference. They had Zimbabwe to thank for their qualification after the latter defeated Mozambique 3-1 in the other match in Group A.
It meant three teams finished on four points. Mozambique defeated South Africa 1-0 in their opener, South Africa beat Zimbabwe 2-0 and Zimbabwe beat Mozambique 3-1. SA have a +1 goal-difference, Zimbabwe +0 and Mozambique -1, and that was the difference in the end.
Truth be told it was the Mauritius who had the better chances. They came with a strong squad with players plying their trade across Europe’s lower leagues.
They played to a third consecutive 0-0 draw in the competition but might well have won all three with better finishing.
Zimbabwe found their grove as they beat Mozambique thanks to two first half goals from Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and a late strike via Junior Makunike.
Mozambique, who had gone into the final round of pool games on top of the table, scored a consolation via Leonel Calsao.
Angola defeated Malawi thanks to Randy Nteka’s goal three minutes into the second half. There was not much to choose between the sides, but that was the decisive moment.
Goals from Sisqo Haraseb, Bethuel Muzeu and Joslin Kamatuka (penalty) gave Namibia a 3-0 win over Lesotho as they finished second in Group B.
The final games in Group C and Group D will be played on Wednesday, when the semifinal line-up will be complete.
Eswatini face already eliminated Tanzania at the Toyota Stadium in a Group C clash (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT), needing a win to overhaul Madagascar at the top of the table.
A 1-0 victory would leave them level on points, goal-difference and goals-scored with the Malagasy and bring it down to Fair Play points. Any other type of win will send them through, while a draw or defeat and they are out.
It is exactly the same scenario in Group D, where Botswana take on Zambia at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT).
Zambia are already eliminated, while a 1-0 win for Botswana leaves them level on points, goal-difference and goals-scored with Comoros and brings it down to Fair Play points.
Any other type of win and they are through, any other result and Comoros will advance.
All games will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow the tournament at the dedicated HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA CUP 2025 page.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Group A – Toyota Stadium
Mozambique 1 (Calsao 38’) Zimbabwe 3 (Ngwenya 27’, 36’pen, Makunike 90+5’)
Group A – Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium
South Africa 0 Mauritius 0
Group B – Toyota Stadium
Malawi 0 Angola 1 (Nteka 48’)
Group B – Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium
Namibia 3 (Hariseb 7’, Muzeu 74’, Kamatuka 83’pen) Lesotho 0
WEDNESDAY’S FIXTURES
Group C – Toyota Stadium
Eswatini vs Tanzania (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
Group D – Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium
Botswana vs Zambia (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa (Q) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4* |
| Zimbabwe | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4* |
| Mozambique | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4* |
| Mauritius | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
* South Africa finish top by virtue of goal-difference in their head-to-head record
with Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Angola (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Namibia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Lesotho | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 3 |
| Malawi | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Madagascar | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Eswatini | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tanzania (E) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| GROUP D | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Comoros | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Botswana | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Zambia (E) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 16
Goals scored: 22
Biggest victory: Angola 4 Lesotho 0 (Group B, June 8)
Most goals in a game: 4 – Angola 4 Lesotho 0 (Group B, June 8); Mozambique 1 Zimbabwe 3 (Group A, June 10)
GOALSCORERS
4 goals – Depu (Angola)
2 – Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (Zimbabwe)
1 – Leonel Calsao (Mozambique), Kabelo Dlamini (South Africa), Sisqo Haraseb (Namibia),
Joslin Kamatuka (Namibia), Ivan Kamberipa (Namibia), Lalaina (Madagascar), Ibrahim Madi (Comoros), Andy Magagula (Eswatini), Junior Makunike (Zimbabwe), Bethuel Muzeu (Namibia), Makara Ntaitsane (Lesotho), Randy Nteka (Angola), Ime Okon (South Africa), Toky Rakotondraibe (Madagascar), Antonio Sumbane (Mozambique), Vidinho (Angola)
L’Afrique du Sud et l’Angola poursuivent l’aventure
L’Afrique du Sud et l’Angola ont obtenu leur billet pour la demi-finale de l’édition 2025 de la HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup. Les Sud-Africains ont été tenus en échec par Maurice (0-0), tandis que l’Angola s’est contenté du minimum face au Malawi pour poursuivre l’aventure.
Un scénario fou a rythmé la journée de mardi. Les Bafana Bafana, au bord de l’élimination avant le coup d’envoi, peuvent remercier le Zimbabwe, large vainqueur du Mozambique. Malgré ce succès, les Zimbabwéens sont éliminés.
Le Mozambique a explosé en plein vol. Alors qu’il lui suffisait d’un match nul pour rejoindre le dernier carré, la pression semble avoir pris le dessus sur les Mambas. Ils ont été battus 3-1 par le Zimbabwe. Dans cette rencontre, Ngwenya a rapidement fait le break avec un but à la 27e minute, puis un autre à la 33e minute. En face, Leonel a cru entretenir l’espoir avec sa réalisation à la 38e, mais en fin de match, Maunike a planté une troisième banderille, actant ainsi l’élimination des Mozambicains.
L’Angola a assuré le minimum contre le Malawi. Un but de Nteka juste après la pause a été suffisant pour offrir la qualification aux Antilopes Noires. Avec sept unités au compteur, les champions en titre sont bien partis pour conserver leur titre. De son côté, la Namibie n’est pas parvenue à se hisser en demi-finale malgré son large succès contre le Lesotho (3-0). Haraseb a rapidement ouvert le score à la 4e minute, et Muzeu a ensuite inscrit un doublé sur pénalty (73e et 81e).
Ce mercredi, le programme s’annonce riche en émotions avec deux rencontres cruciales dans le cadre de la phase de groupes de la HOLLYWOODBETS Cosafa Cup. À 15h, l’Eswatini affrontera la Tanzanie au Toyota Stadium, tandis que le Botswana accueillera la Zambie au Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium. Ce seront les dernières rencontres de la phase de groupe.
Dans le Groupe C, Madagascar a pris la tête avec un bilan de deux matches, un match nul et une victoire, affichant un total de 4 points. Avec 2 buts marqués et 1 encaissé, les Malgaches montrent une belle solidité, tandis que l’Eswatini, avec un match nul à son actif, espère capitaliser sur cette rencontre pour grimper au classement. La Tanzanie, quant à elle, est déjà hors-course. Les invités à la compétition ne peuvent plus prétendre à rejoindre le dernier carré et s’attelleront surtout à réaliser une performance correcte histoire de boucler le tournoi sur une bonne note.
Du côté du Groupe D, les Comores mènent avec 4 points après deux matches disputés. Le Botswana, avec un match nul, espère profiter de son match contre la Zambie pour prendre la seconde place ou valider son billet pour le carré d’As. Les Botswanais devront marquer pas mal de buts pour y arriver. La Zambie est éliminée après son revers inaugural.
África do Sul e Angola nas meias-finais!
As selecções da África do Sul e de Angola (campeã em título) garantiram, esta tarde, o seu lugar nas meias-finais da 24ª edição da Hollywoodbets Taça COSAFA, numa jornada marcada por emoções intensas. A anfitriã África do Sul, apesar de um empate sem golos contra as Maurícias, conseguiu avançar como líder do Grupo A com quatro pontos. Por outro lado, Angola triunfou sobre o Malawi com um golo solitário de Nteka (48´), assegurando o primeiro lugar do Grupo B com sete pontos.
O Toyota Stadium será o palco das meias-finais, agendadas para o dia 13 de Junho, com o primeiro jogo a ter início às 12h00 e o segundo às 15h00. Enquanto isso, Moçambique viu o seu sonho de qualificação desvanecer-se após uma derrota por 3-1 frente ao Zimbabwe.
Os “Mambinhas”, que lideravam o Grupo A antes desta jornada decisiva, apenas precisavam de um empate ou uma vitória para garantir a passagem. Contudo, o Zimbabwe, determinado e eficiente, aproveitou as fragilidades defensivas da selecção moçambicana e conseguiu uma vitória que alterou drasticamente a classificação.
No Grupo C, Madagascar, após derrotar a Tanzânia na sua estreia, garantiu a liderança ao conquistar um ponto contra Eswatini. Assim, os “Taifa Stars” não conseguem ultrapassar os malgaxes na tabela. No entanto, Eswatini ainda poderá fazê-lo ao enfrentar a Tanzania amanhã.
No Grupo D, Comores e Botswana empataram em 0-0, resultado que eliminou a Zâmbia da competição. Comores agora soma quatro pontos em dois jogos, enquanto a Zâmbia permanece sem pontos e ainda tem um jogo por disputar contra Botswana, que pode ainda alcançar a semifinal com uma vitória.
Com a grelha dos semifinalistas quase completa, a expectativa cresce para os jogos de amanhã, que irão definir as equipas que avançarão a partir dos Grupos C e D. Segundo o regulamento da Taça COSAFA, apenas os líderes dos quatro grupos poderão seguir em frente para a fase eliminatória.
