The semifinal line-up at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier in Matola, Mozambique is complete with Angola to face South Africa and Zimbabwe in a face-off with old foes Zambia on Thursday.
Angola and Zimbabwe were already confirmed as winners of their respective pools before Tuesday’s action, where South Africa took top spot in Group C following a 2-0 win over Comoros.
Lesotho’s 3-2 victory over Malawi left a complex calculation for second place in the pool, but Malawi took the spot by virtue of goals scored.
When three teams level on points the results from matches between those sides are used to place them in order in the table.
Each side had three points and a +0 goal-difference, but Malawi scored four goals to Lesotho’s three and Comoros’ two.
Having seen Malawi place second, the head-to-head record between Comoros and Lesotho was needed to decide third and the islanders took it by virtue of their 1-0 win in their opening pool game.
The calculation for the best runner-up across all the pools sees the results of the teams that finish bottom in Groups A and C discarded to level the playing field with the three-team Group B, where Zambia finished second with three points and a -1 goal-difference.
Botswana were the second placed team in Group A, but with only their two draws against Zimbabwe and Eswatini counting towards the calculation, they had two points and so finish below Zambia.
When only the points from matches involving South Africa, Malawi and Comoros were taken into account in Group C, Malawi came out with three points but a -4 goal-difference, putting them behind Zambia as well.
Goals from Emmanuel Mwanza and David Simukonda were enough to earn defending champions Zambia a 2-1 Group B win over Namibia, who grabbed what proved a consolation through Engilio Goagoseb.
Mwanza scored with a powerful shot after a beautiful pass from Mumba Mwale on 36 minutes before Simukonda netted in the second half. Goagoseb reduced the deficit when his well struck free-kick from 30-yards found the top right corner of the net.
South Africa topped Group C with a full haul of nine points following their 2-0 win over Comoros, given to them by a goal from Mamelodi Sundowns forward Siyabonga Mabena and a late strike by Ofentse Kgosana.
The victory was achieved despite South Africa coach Raymond Mdaka rotating his team by bringing in fresh legs, perhaps with Thursday’s semifinals in mind.
It was not a blemish free match though as they finished the game with 10 men following a second yellow card for Lazola Maku for diving that means he will miss the last-4 encounter.
Lesotho took the lead against Malawi when Paseka Maile was brought down in the box and he stepped up to score from the penalty-spot by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Chewane Nthaka scored a second goal from a rebound after Tholang Makuru’s well-placed header hit an upright.
Maile registered his second goal after 57 minutes when he outran his opponent to make it 3-0. At that stage Lesotho were looking good for second place.
But Hermas Masinja pulled one back and when Mwisho Mhango scored a second goal from a penalty with five minutes remaining after Lehlohonolo Leemisa handled the ball in the box, the equation turned again.
The two finalists in Mozambique will qualify for the continental finals that are due to be played next year.
Those in turn will act as the African preliminary tournament for the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile, with the continent to have four representatives.
All games in Matola will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow the action from this dedicated tournament page.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Group B
Zambia 2 (Mwanza 37’, Simukonda 62’) Namibia 1 (Goagoseb 65’)
Group C
Malawi 2 (Masinja 64’, Mhango 85’pen) Lesotho 3 (Maile 5’pen, 58’, Ntakha 43′)
Comoros 0 South Africa 2 (Mabena 46’, Kgosana 83’)
THURSDAY’S FIXTURES
Semifinals
Angola vs South Africa (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Zimbabwe vs Zambia (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zimbabwe (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Botswana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 |
| Mozambique | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Angola (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Zambia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| Namibia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 9 |
| Malawi | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3* |
| Comoros | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3** |
| Lesotho | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 3 |
* Malawi lead Comoros and Lesotho on head-to-head record
** Comoros lead Lesotho on head-to-head record
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 15
Goals scored: 48
Biggest victory: South Africa 6 Lesotho 0 (Group C, September 29)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Mozambique 4 Eswatini 5 (Group A, September 26)
GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Kelvin Neves (Mozambique)
2 – Shakeel April (South Africa), Lee Jody Ahshene (South Africa), Shandre Campbell (South Africa), Adiel Kaduya (Malawi), Kutlwano Letlhaku (South Africa), Paseka Maile (Lesotho), Alakhe Mdluli (Eswatini), Enock Moyo (Zimbabwe)
1 – Falahidine Ahamada (Comoros), Malaik Bacar (Comoros), Tanaka Cherera (Zimbabwe), Phiwayinkhosi Dube (Eswatini), Engilio Goagoseb (Namibia), Malwende Gwebu (Eswatini), Amado Haidara (Angola), Gaone Japane (Botswana), Jose (Mozambique), Philip Kaku (Botswana), Ofentse Kgosana (South Africa), Siyabonga Mabena (South Africa), Hermas Masinja (Malawi), Njongo Mazibuko (Eswatini), Mbekezele Mbokazi (South Africa), Mwisho Mhango (Malawi), Nisbet Muzenda (Zimbabwe), Mumba Mwale (Zambia), Emmanuel Mwanza (Zambia), Prince Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe), Chewane Ntakha (Lesotho), Simao Pedro (Angola), Filipe Quissequel (Angola), Losika Ratshukudu (Botswana), Yuran Seia (Mozambique), David Simukonda (Zambia), Sifiso Timba (South Africa)
Own goal – Fostino Chanda (Zambia), Leluma Mofoko (Lesotho)
Choc en demie avec le duel Angola / Afrique du Sud
On connait désormais les affiches des demi-finales de la TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations I COSAFA Qualifier 2024. Dans le match pour le dernier carré, l’Angola affrontera l’Afrique du Sud tandis que le Zimbabwe sera aux prises avec la Zambie dans ce qui constitue un classique sur la scène africaine.
Un match de haut niveau. C’est ce qui nous réserve la rencontre entre l’Angola et l’Afrique du Sud. Les deux formations ont impressionné durant cette phase de groupe. Ils s’affronteront jeudi et ce sera tant mieux pour le spectacle. Mardi, les Sud-Africains ont un peu levé le pied après leur deux succès remplis d’artifice. Ils affrontaient les Comores et ils n’ont eu besoin que de deux buts pour définitivement valider leur ticket. Mabena et Kgosana ont été les buteurs durant cet affrontement.
Le Zimbabwe partira, lui, favori contre la Zambie. Les Zimbabwéens avaient déjà fait le plus dur depuis lundi. Ils tenteront de confirmer leur force. En revanche, ce sera un peu plus compliqué pour les Zambiens qui parviennent difficilement à trouver leurs automatismes dans cette compétition.
Le Lesotho a pu compter sur Maile qui a inscrit un doublé et la réalisation de Ntakha pour débloquer son compteur de victoire. Les Lesothans se sont, en effet, imposé 3-2 contre le Malawi. Mais cela n’a servi à rien. Les deux pays sont déjà éliminés de la compétition.
La Zambie et la Namibie ont traversé le tournoi sur la pointe des pieds. Les deux formations – tirées dans le groupe B – n’avaient que deux rencontres à disputer. Ils ont toutefois eu une équipe redoutable dans leur groupe, à savoir l’Angola. Les Rouge et Noir ont été intenables durant ce premier tour en s’offrant facilement les six points. Ils sont des candidats sérieux pour le titre cette année.
Malgré tout, les Zambiens ont mis le paquet pour ne pas terminer le tournoi avec un zéro pointé. Mardi, ils ont dû lutter pour se défaire de la Namibie (2-1). Mwanza a ouvert le score à la 37e minute tandis que Simkonda a permis aux Young Chipolopolos d’assurer les trois points de la victoire en marquant peu après l’heure de jeu. Goagoseb a ensuite réduit le score à la 65e minute mais c’était déjà trop tard.
África do Sul faz o pleno e Zâmbia continua viva!
A Selecção da África do Sul carimbou, hoje, o passaporte para as meias-finais, do torneio sub-20 da COSAFA, qualificativo para o Campeonato Africano das Nações (CAN), após vencer a sua congénere das Comores por 2-0, em jogo pontuável para a terceira e última jornada do Grupo C. Os “Amajitas” terminaram a fase regular com o pleno somando nove pontos, seguidos por Malawi, Comores e Lesotho, todos com três pontos.
A equipa sul-africana dominou o encontro e com alguma naturalidade conquistou os últimos três pontos, graças ao golos de Mabena (46´) e kgosana (82´). Um adversário, diga-se de passagem, que não foi nenhuma pera doce. Contudo, o técnico da África do Sul, Xaniseka Mdaka, não poderá contar com uma das suas unidades fulcrais no próximo jogo, Lazola Maku, por acumulação de cartões amarelos.
No entanto, nas meias-finais, a equipa sul-africana vai disputar, nesta quinta-feira, o acesso a final com Angola, a primeira selecção a garantir a sua vaga na fase eliminar. O jogo terá lugar às 12:00 horas, no Campo Número 1 da Arena Lalgy, no Município da Matola, Moçambique.
Noutra meia-final, Zimbawe que também já havia assegurado a sua vaga para esta etapa, medirá forças com a Zâmbia, segundo melhor classificado dos três grupos.
Por conseguinte, a Zâmbia, campeã em título, conseguiu um triunfo precioso sobre a sua similar da Namíbia, na disputa da segunda jornada do Grupo B,por 2-1, terminado colocada na segunda posição com dois pontos.
De acordo com o regulamento da competição, o cálculo para o segundo lugar no grupo implica que os resultados contra a última equipa nos dois grupos de quatro equipas são descartados, o que coloca Botswana efectivamente com dois pontos.
Isso significa que, o facto da Zâmbia ter vencido a Namíbia no Grupo B, onde terminou em segundo lugar com três pontos, Botswana está eliminada, ou seja, bastava apenas um empate para continuar vivo na competição, mas os campeões em título, Zâmbia terão a oportunidade de revalidar o título.
Triste sina para Botswana, que ontem consentiu um empate comprometedor sem golos diante do Eswatini e, teve de esperar ansiosamente para ver se seguia como o melhor segundo classificado dos três grupos, lembrando que Zimbabwe (já qualificada) lidera o grupo com sete pontos, seguido pelo Botswana (5 pontos), e pelos eliminados Eswatini (4) e Moçambique (0).
Lembrar que o regulamento da competição determina que apenas o vencedor e o segundo melhor classificado dos três grupos apuram-se às meias-finais da prova, enquanto que as duas equipas que chegarem às finais da competição preliminar regional seguirão para a fase continental do próximo ano, que por sua vez, servirá de qualificação para a Taça do Mundo– 2025 a ser realizada no Chile.
Quatro selecções africanas estarão representadas no “Mundial” e a região da África Austral espera ter duas, depois de Angola, África do Sul e Zâmbia terem representado a região no passado.
