Angola sealed their place in the semifinals of the 2018 MOPANI Copper Mines COSAFA Under-20 Championships with a stunning 4-1 victory over Group C winners Zimbabwe on Sunday.
The Zimbabweans had already qualified for the knockout stages and made eight changes to their side, with Angola able to capitalize on their lack of cohesion.
Angola edged Mozambique on goal-difference as the best-placed runner-up among the three pools and now meet defending champions South Africa (KO 13h00) in the semifinals on Tuesday, while Zimbabwe take on hosts Zambia (15h30).
Angola took an early lead through Daniel Liberal inside six minutes and added a second from the penalty-spot late in the first half as Jelson converted from 12-yards.
That took the side into halftime with a 2-0 lead, which they extended within a minute of the re-start as Liberal scored his third of the competition to move joint top of the scorers chart.
Zimbabwe were given hope when Blessing Sarupinda pulled a goal back, but it was only a temporary reprieve as Fernando added a fourth just past the hour-mark for a rampant Angola.
In the other match in the pool, Botswana claimed a consolation 1-0 victory over Lesotho in a game of few chances.
The decisive moment in the match came with three minutes to go when Lesotho’s Tsepo Mokherane turned the ball into his own net to gift Botswana a winner.
Meanwhile, organisers have also announced that the third-place play-off and final will be brought forward 24 hours to Thursday with the same kick-off times.
This is due to a fixture clash with the Nkana Stadium venue now being used for a CAF Champions League fixture on Friday.
SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Group C
Lesotho 0 Botswana 1 (Mokherane 87’og)
Zimbabwe 1 (Sarupinda 49’) Angola 4 (Liberal 6’, 48’, Jelson 39’pen, Fernando 63)
TUESDAY’S FIXTURES
Semifinals
13h00 (11h00 GMT): South Africa vs Angola – Nkana Stadium
15h30 (13h30 GMT): Zambia vs Zimbabwe – Nkana Stadium
STANDINGS
Group A P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Zambia (Q) 3 2 1 0 5 1 +4 7
Mozambique 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 5
DR Congo 3 1 0 2 3 4 -1 3
Malawi 3 0 0 3 2 6 -4 1
Group B P W D L GF GA GD Pts
South Africa (Q) 2 2 0 0 9 0 +9 6
Mauritius 2 1 0 1 4 5 -1 3
Eswatini 2 0 0 2 0 8 -8 0
Group C P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Zimbabwe (Q) 3 2 0 1 7 5 +2 6
Angola (Q) 3 1 2 0 5 2 +3 5
Botswana 3 1 1 1 2 2 0
Lesotho 3 0 1 2 1 6 -5 1
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 15
Goals scored: 41
Biggest victory: South Africa 5 Mauritius 0 (Group B, December 3)
Most goals in a game: 5 – South Africa 5 Mauritius 0 (Group B, December 3); Zimbabwe 1 Angola 4 (Group C, December 9)
GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Lyle Foster (South Africa),Daniel Liberal (Angola), Prince Mumba (Zambia), Delic Murimba (Zimbabwe)
2 – James Monyane (South Africa), Junior Nyamuziwa (Zimbabwe)
1 – Adamo Alifa (Mozambique), Jean Aristide (Mauritius), Peter Banda (Malawi), Chikaiko Batison (Malawi), Tseliso Botsane (Lesotho), Geny Catamo (Mozambique), Edward Chilufya (Zambia), Kamo-Kamo Cumbane (Mozambique), Fernando Duarte (Angola), Adrien Francois (Mauritius), Fasika Idumba (DR Congo), Benson Kolala (Zambia), Luke le Roux (South Africa), Promise Mkhuma (South Africa), Ludovic Milazar (Mauritius), Jelson Mivo (Angola), Jackson Muleka (DR Congo), Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (South Africa), Mbala Nsingi (DR Congo), Jean Roussety (Mauritius), Blessing Sarupinda (Zimbabwe), Resaobaka Thatanyane (Botswana), Tatenda Tumba (Zimbabwe)
Own goals – Jean Francois (Mauritius), Tsepo Mokherane (Lesotho)
