Malawi and South Africa have booked their places in the semifinals of the 2023 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup where they will join Lesotho, but for defending champions Zambia there is an anxious wait to see if they will be in the Last 4.
Hosts South Africa finished top of Group A in Durban, while Malawi made it three wins from three to claim Group B and set up a semifinal with Lesotho on Friday.
South Africa will meet either Zambia or Mauritius in the next stage, with those two teams still in the running to be the best-placed runner-up. In order to for Mauritius to earn their spot though, they need to beat Mozambique by four goals in their final Group C game on Wednesday.
South Africa came from behind for the third time in as many games to beat Eswatini 2-1. The latter took the lead on 51 minutes through Bongwa Matsebula, but a brace from Tshegofatso Mabasa in the final 15 minutes swung the game in the favour of Bafana Bafana.
The other match in the pool between Namibia and Botswana ended in a 0-0 draw.
Malawi made it three wins from three in the pool stages as they defeated Comoros 2-0 and have still yet to concede a goal in the competition, storming into the semifinals as they search for their first COSAFA Cup title.
Chawanangwa Kaonga scored a penalty for The Flames, before Patrick Mwaungulu added a second to make sure of the points.
If you include their final game of 2022, Malawi have now won four COSAFA Cup matches in a row for the first time in their history, a pleasing return for coach Patrick Mabedi.
Zambia put themselves in contention as the best-placed runner-up with a thumping 4-2 victory over Seychelles, though they conceded twice late on to hurt their goal-difference.
Zambia were rampant in the first 75 minutes as they scored four times through Albert Kangwanda, Killan Kanguluma, Golden Mashata and Fredrick Mulambia.
At that stage there were cruising, but after Brandon Labrosse pulled a goal back for Seychelles, their first of the tournament, Warren Mellie added an injury-time penalty.
Group C concludes on Wednesday but Lesotho have already been confirmed as pool winners after taking six points from their two games to date. Both final games will kick-off at 15h00 CAT.
Mauritius have three points and can only finish as the best runner-up. They will overhaul Zambia if they beat Mozambique by four goals in their final game that will be played at the Princess Magogo Stadium.
Across town at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Lesotho meet Angola in what is essentially a dead rubber, though both sides will be looking to finish the group on a high.
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TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Group B – Princess Magogo Stadium
Seychelles 2 (Labrosse 81’, Mellie 90’pen) Zambia 4 (Kangwanda 11’, Kanguluma 54’, Mashata 58’, Mulambia 73’)
Group B – Moses Mabhida Stadium
Malawi 2 (Kaonga 30’pen, Patrick Mwaungulu 36’) Comoros 0
Group A – Princess Magogo Stadium
South Africa 2 (Mabasa 76’, 88’) Eswatini 1 (Matsebula 51’)
Group A – Moses Mabhida Stadium
Namibia 0 Botswana 0
WEDNESDAY’S FIXTURES
Group C – Princess Magogo Stadium
Mauritius vs Mozambique (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
Group C – Moses Mabhida Stadium
Angola vs Lesotho (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| Botswana | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| Namibia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Malawi (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| Zambia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Comoros | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Seychelles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Lesotho (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Mauritius | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| Angola | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| Mozambique | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 16
Goals scored: 35
Biggest victory: Seychelles 0 Comoros 3 (Group B, July 6)
Most goals in a game: 6 – Seychelles 2 Zambia 4 (Group B, July 11)
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Affane Djambae (Comoros), Albert Kangwanda (Zambia), Tshegofatso Mabasa (South Africa), Bongwa Matsebula (Eswatini), Neo Mokhachane (Lesotho), Fredrick Mulambia (Zambia)
1 – Dayo Antonio (Mozambique), Raidou Bacar (Comoros), Benarfa (Angola), Lebogang Ditsele (Botswana), Marie Francois (Mauritius), Rowan Human (South Africa), Absalom Iimbondi (Namibia), Elmo Kambindu (Namibia), Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Botswana), Jacama Kumwembe (Malawi), Killan Kanguluma (Zambia), Chawanangwa Kaonga (Malawi), Brandon Labrosse (Seychelles), Golden Mashata (Zambia), Sifiso Matse (Eswatini), Warren Mellie (Seychelles), Shaune Mogaila (South Africa), Patrick Mwaungulu (Malawi), Lanjesi Nkhoma (Malawi), Iqraam Rayners (South Africa), Motebang Sera (Lesotho), Ibroihim Youssouf (Comoros)
Own goal – Aaron Katebe (Zambia)
L’Afrique du Sud et le Malawi dans le dernier carré
La 7e journée de la Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup a permis au Malawi et à l’Afrique du Sud de valider leur billet pour le dernier carré. Ils rejoignent le Lesotho alors que le meilleur deuxième sur l’ensemble des trois groupes sera connu aujourd’hui.
Les Bafana Bafana se sont longtemps heurté au rideau défensif imposé par l’Eswatini. Ce dernier a fini par craquer après les deux buts inscrits par Mabasa à la 77e et à la 88e minute. Un revirement de situation malheureux d’autant que c’est l’Eswatini qui avait ouvert le score par l’entremise de Matsebula (51e). De leur côté, la Namibie et le Botswana se sont neutralisé (0-0). Ce match nul ne profite à personne puisque les deux formations sont éliminées de la compétition.
Six buts ont été marqués dans la confrontation opposant la Zambie aux Seychelles mardi au Princess Magogo Stadium. Au coup de sifflet final, ce sont les Chipolopolos qui l’ont emporté 4-2. Ils terminent la phase de groupe avec six points et devront attendre l’ultime journée de la phase de groupe pour savoir s’ils finiront meilleur deuxième du tournoi. Mardi, c’est Albert Kangwanda (11e), Killan Kanguluma (54e), Golden Mashata (58e) et Fredrick Mulambia (74e) qui ont marqué pour les Zambiens.
On a toutefois assisté à un sursaut d’orgueil des Seychellois en fin de rencontre lorsque Brandon Labrosse et Warren Mellie ont trouvé le chemin du but. Le réveil a cependant été trop tardif pour les Pirates qui retrouveront leu archipel avec aucun point pris dans la compétition.
Dans l’autre match du groupe B, le Malawi a poursuivi on sans-faute et achève ce premier tour avec neuf unités au compteur. Les Flames n’ont pas eu à beaucoup s’employer pour prendre le meilleur sur les Comores avant de s’imposer 2-0. Kaonga à la demi-heure de jeu et Mwaungulu sept minutes plus tard ont permis aux Malawites de se présenter comme un candidat crédible au titre. Les Comoriens terminent troisième de leur groupe.
Dernière journée de la phase de groupe ce mercredi. Ce seront aux pensionnaires de la poule C de conclure ce premier tour. Le Lesotho jouera un match pour soigner ses chiffres étant déjà qualifié pour le dernier carré. Les Lesothans ne peuvent plus être dépassés au classement. Ils affrontent l’Angola aujourd’hui. Les Angolais sont déjà éliminés du tournoi où ils s’attendaient à mieux. Pour les crocodiles, l’aventure continue et ils ont bien l’intention de vendre chèrement leur peau à ce stade de la compétition. Les Antilopes Noires n’ont qu’une envie, celle de remporter au moins une victoire avant de rentrer à la maison.
Dans l’autre rencontre, Maurice tentera de bien finir. Les Mauriciens ont connu un début de compétition catastrophique en se faisant battre par le Lesotho (2-1). Par la suite, les choses se sont améliorées puisque le Club M a enchainé avec une victoire surprise contre l’Angola (1-0). Mathématiquement, les Mauriciens ne sont pas encore éliminés de la compétition. Mais ils doivent l’emporter sur un lourd score contre le Mozambique ce mercredi. Les Mambas sont, eux, déjà éliminés mais tenteront de terminer sur un succès avant de rentrer.
Conhecidos semifinalistas do COSAFA-2023
As seleções do Malawi e do Lesotho vão disputar, no dia 14de Julho, às 15.00horas, no King Zwelithini Stadium, a primeira meia-final da 22ª edição da Taça COSAFA , em curso cidade sul-africana de Durban desde o passado dia 5 deste mês. Ainda no mesmo estádio, às 18.00 horas, África do Sul e o segundo melhor classificado irão protagonizar o segundo desafio referente as “meias”.
Para chegar a esta etapa, Malawi terminou a fase de grupos(B) com o pleno, depois de ter vencido na fase regular as suas congéneres da Zâmbia (1-0), Seychelles (2-0) e, por fim, levou de vencida as Comores por 2-0. Por sua vez, o Lesotho (no grupo C), que já havia assegurado a sua presença na fase eliminar na segunda jornada, fruto dos dois triunfos frente as Maurícias (2-0) e Moçambique (1-0), beneficiou do confronto directo mercê da vitória arrancada diante dos insulares na jornada inaugural.
Entretanto, uma vez tendo a situação regularizada, o Lesotho segue na liderança com seis pontos, seguido pelas Maurícias, com três, enquanto Moçambique e Angola estão nos dois últimos lugares do grupo com apenas um ponto cada, devendo apenas jogar pela honra.
Já a África do Sul, anfitriã, precisou de suar as estopinhas para vencer a sua congénere do Eswatini (2-1), esta que entrou a marcar a passagem do minuto 51 por intermedio de Bongwa Matsebula, mas os sul-africanos foram resilientes e acreditaram até o fim, chegando ao golo do empate aos 76 minutos. Matsebula foi o herói do jogo e voltou a facturar a um minuto do fim da partida.
A equipa caseira alcançou o recorde de seis vitórias sem sofrer nenhuma derrota diante de adversário.
Com este desfecho, os sul-africanos terminaram a fase de grupos (A) com sete pontos na liderança, seguidos por Botswana (4), Eswatini (3) e Namíbia (2). A Zâmbia, que venceu as Seychelles (4-2) na última jornada terá que aguardar pelos resultados do Grupo C, daí esperar que as Maurícias percam ou não marquem acima de quatro golos.
A vitória da Zâmbia sobre as Seychelles (4-2), hoje, frustrou a possibilidade dos lusófonos alimentarem alguma esperança de avançarem como os segundo melhores classificados de todos, uma vez que, só a derrota dos zambianos interessaria a Moçambique e Angola.
Vale relembrar que a competição é disputada por 12 nações divididas em três grupos de quatro equipas cada, sendo que os três melhores classificados e o segundo melhor colocado de todos seguirão para as meias-finais.
Este figurino vai conferir maior rodagem às equipas, visto que permite a realização de um mínimo de três jogos e máximo de cinco. No anterior formato, os primeiros classificados de cada série apuravam-se para os quartos-de-final, sendo que não havia disputa doutros lugares, ou seja, quem fosse eliminado na fase de grupos regressava para casa.
