Senegal will take on Egypt in the final of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Beach Soccer Championships at Durban’s South Beach Arena after they both won their Friday semi-finals, albeit in contrasting fashion.

African champions Senegal, one of four guest nations at the COSAFA tournament, booked their ticket to the championship decider after a ruthless performance against Uganda, winning 10-3 in the first of the semi-finals.

But it was much closer in the second encounter, where Egypt came from behind to edge Mozanbique 2-1 in a tense and tightly contested affair, eliminating the reigning COSAFA champions.

African champions Senegal, one of four guest nations at the COSAFA tournament, booked their ticket to the championship decider after a ruthless semi-final performance against Uganda, winning 10-3 in the first of the semi-finals.

Senegal man of the match Seydina Diagne claimed a hattrick for himself while Mamour Diagne netted twice, including an impressive goal directly from a corner, taking his personal tally for the tournament to eight goals.

Souleymane Coly also netted twice, missing out on a hattrick by sending his late penalty effort over the bar.

Mamadou Sylla, Ninou Diatta, Seydina Mbaye also scored to take Senegal into double digits, after they had gone 5-0 up in the first period, 8-1 after the second before rounding off a comfortable triumph.

Uganda struggled against a strong defence, but Amborse Kigozi scored twice and captain Baker Lukooya added the other.

“It was important to win, and I’m happy about that, but we always want improve and I think this performance was better than the three games we had played before today,” said Senegal coach Mamadou Diop.

In the second semi-final, Mozambique’s Neto opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first period, a lead they tenuously held onto as Egypt squandered two chances to equalise at the start of the second period, with Elhusseini Aly sending a close range effort flying over the crossbar and Moustafa Shaaban putting his penalty attempt right of the post before Mohamed Aly Hassan equalised.

Egypt managed to keep the tournament’s leading goal scorer, Nelson, off of the score sheet in a game where chances were few and far between.

They then grabbed a late winner through Hassane Hussein, taking the lead with four minutes remaining, and desperately holding to booking their place in the final.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Semi-finals

Senegal 12 (S. Diagne 3, M. Diagne 2, Coly 2, Diatta, Sylla, Mbaye) Uganda 3 (Kigozi 2, Lukooya)

Egypt 2 (Hassan, Hussein) Mozambique 1 (Neto)

SATURDAY’S FIXTURES

Third place playoff

Mozambique vs Uganda (KO 14h00; 12h00 GMT)

Final

Egypt vs Senegal (KO 13h30; 13h30 GMT)

GROUP STANDINGS

GROUP A             P             W            W+         WP         L              GF          GA          GD          PTS

Senegal (Q)         3              3              0              0              0              25           9              16           9

Mozambique (Q)              3              2              0              0              1              24           11           13           6

Seychelles           3              1              0              0              2              7              26           -19          3

South Africa        3              0              0              0              3              9              19           -10          0

GROUP B             P             W            W+         WP         L              GF          GA          GD          PTS

Egypt (Q)             3              3              0              0              0              17           8              9              9

Uganda (Q)         3              2              0              0              1              15           11           4              6

Tanzania              3              1              0              0              2              10           10           0              3

Mauritius             3              0              0              0              3              7              20           -13          0

Key: P = Played; W = Won; W+ = Won in extra-time; WP = Won on penalties; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against; PTS = Points

Points Allocation:

Three points for a win

Two points for a win in extra-time

One point for a win via penalty kicks

TOURNAMENT STATS

Matches Played: 14

Goals scored: 130

Biggest victory: Mozambique 12 Seychelles 2 (Group A, September 26); Seychelles 2 Senegal 12 (Group A, September 28)

Most goals in a game: 14 – Mozambique 12 Seychelles 2 (Group A, September 26); Seychelles 2 Senegal 12 (Group A, September 28)

GOALSCORERS

8 goals – Mamour Diagne (Senegal), Ambrose Kigozi (Uganda), Nelson (Mozambique)

6 – Hassan Hussein (Egypt)

5 – Seydina Diagne (Senegal)

4 – Jaruph Juma (Tanzania), Mamadou Sylla (Senegal)

3 – Moustafa Abdelmoneim (Egypt), Mohamed Aly Hassan (Egypt), Goodluck Gama (Tanzania), Mabomo (Mozambique), Neto (Mozambique), Nduduzo Phakathi (South Africa), Souleymane Coly (Senegal), Amar Samb (Senegal), Seydina Sene (Senegal)

2 – Arroz (Mozambique), Hansel Coeur de Lion (Seychelles), Dez (Mozambique), Ninou Diatte (Senegal), Sharifu Dpuuli (Uganda), Figo (Mozambique), Abongile Gcuda (South Africa), Mtoro Hassan (Tanzania), Isma Kawawulo (Uganda), Joshua Lubwama (Uganda), Haitham Mahsoub (Egypt), Seydina Mbaye (Senegal), Siyabonga Mkhize (South Africa), Jean Nabab (Mauritius), Al Seyni Ndiaye (Senegal), Brian Nkuubi (Uganda), Jean Roseario (Mauritius), Moustafa Shaaban (Egypt)

1 – Elhusseini Aly (Egypt), Ismaeel Bahgat (Egypt), Alpha Balde (Seychelles), Big Ro (Mozambique), Ninou Diatta (Senegal), Elvin Estico (Seychelles), Ousseynou Faye (Senegal), Glenny Gamatis (Seychelles), Davyan Hoareau (Seychelles), Louis Lal (Mauritius), Baker Lukooya (Uganda), Stephano Mapunda (Tanzania), Sphelele Mngadi (South Africa), Papa Ndour (Senegal), Abongile Ngamlana (South Africa), Rachide (Mozambique), Mohammed Rajbally (Mauritius), Tomas (Mozambique), Jean Veerasamy (Mauritius), Martin Williams (Seychelles), Yuran (Mozambique)