South Africa completed a ‘double’ for the second year in a row as they claimed both the Boys’ and Girls’ titles at the African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier, Zimbabwe 2023 on Saturday.
Both will advance to the continental finals to be played next year having come out on top following a superb three days of schools football action in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare.
The Boys’ team, made up predominantly of players from the Ubuntu Football Academy School in Cape Town, defeated Malawi 3-0 on penalties after the teams had played to a 1-1 draw in a pulsating final.
Malawi took the lead on the stroke of halftime in the Boys’ final as Okestar Kanyenda scored a superb goal when he struck the ball on the volley and into the far post.
Malawi had several promising attacks but were repeatedly caught offside before South Africa made them pay.
Rhys Ferguson saw his initial shot on the volley come back off the post, but he reacted quickest to the loose ball to send it into the net and take the game to spot-kicks.
South Africa scored all of theirs, but Malawi missed each of their penalties as Amos Nyirenda struck the crossbar, and Tinga Nkhoma and James Msongole had their efforts saved by goalkeeper Sabrie Losper.
Hosts Zimbabwe claimed third place in the Boys’ competition with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Namibia in their bronze-medal match.
It was a game of few clear-cut chances, but the best fell to the hosts. It looked as though they would be taken to penalties before El Shaddai Sadomba scored a fantastic goal late on.
He picked up the ball in the box and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, beating the outstretched dive of the goalkeeper.
It caps a fine tournament for Zimbabwe, who will be ruing their one poor performance – an opening 4-0 loss to Malawi that put them on the back foot in their pool. Otherwise they were excellent.
South Africa, made up mostly of players from Edendale Technical High School, claimed gold in the Girls’ final with a 3-1 victory over Botswana, who pushed them all the way.
Khwezi Khoza, who finished as the leading scorer in the competition with 11 goals, netted twice for the South Africans to go with a goal for livewire winger Rethabile Molefe.
Botswana’s consolation goal came from Amogelang Sebotho, who was impressive throughout the competition.
Mozambique were comfortable winners in the Girls’ bronze-medal match as they defeated Namibia 4-0, the latter unlucky to finish fourth and outside the medals in both the Boys’ and Girls’ events.
The excellent Isabel Cuinhane scored all four goals for Mozambique in a dominant display from their side.
South Africa’s Simama Inganathi was named Player of the Tournament in the Boys’ competition, while Losper took home the Golden Glove. Teammate Rhys
Ferguson and Zimbabwe’s Sadomba shared the Golden Boot having scored four goals each.
Hosts Zimbabwe also took home the Fair Play award.
South Africa’s Katleho Malebana was named Player of the Tournament in the Girls’ category, while teammates Angel Zibula won Golden Glove and Khoza the Golden Boot. Namibia won the Fair Play prize.
The winning associations in the two categories take home $100,000, the runners-up $75,000 and third place $50,000.
The awards are decided by the Technical Study Group at the tournament, using data gained from the players’ performances in each match.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
GIRLS
Third-Place Play-Off
Mozambique 4 (Isabel Cuinhane 4) Namibia 0
Final
South Africa 3 (Khwezi Khoza 2, Rethabile Molefe) Botswana 1 (Amogelang Sebotho)
BOYS
Third-Place Play-Off
Zimbabwe 1 (El Shaddai Sadomba) Namibia 0
Final
Malawi 1 (Okestar Kanyenda) South Africa 1 (Rhys Ferguson)
SA won 3-0 on penalties
TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
BOYS
Matches Played: 22
Goals scored: 62
Biggest victory: South Africa 7 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
Most goals in a game: 7 – South Africa 7 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
GIRLS
Matches Played: 22
Goals scored: 83
Biggest victory: South Africa 14 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
Most goals in a game: 14 – South Africa 14 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
Doublé de l’Afrique du Sud qui représentera la région
L’Afrique du Sud a réalisé le doublé dans l’édition 2023 du Championnat africain de football scolaire de la CAF | Qualifications COSAFA. Que ce soit chez les garçons ou chez les filles, le titre est allé aux Sud-Africains qui représenteront la COSAFA dans la compétition reine de cette catégorie d’âge. Au tableau masculin, l’Afrique du Sud a battu le Malawi 3-1 alors que chez les filles, les Sud-Africaines se sont imposées sur le même score mais contre le Botswana.
Pourtant, les choses n’ont pas débuté idéalement pour l’Afrique du Sud qui a concédé le premier but contre le Malawi. Ce dernier a donné le tournis à la défense adverse par des contres éclairs. Mais l’Afrique du Sud a su attendre son heure pour égaliser avant de renverser une situation qui lui était défavorable au départ.
Dans le tableau d’honneur, le prix du fair-play est revenu au Zimbabwe. Les Sud-Africains Losper Sabrie et Simama Inganathi ont été récompensés du titre de meilleur gardien de la compétition et du joueur du tournoi. Enfin, le titre de meilleur buteur est allé au Sud-Africain Ferguson Rhys et au Zimbabwéen Sadomba El Shadai. Ils ont chacun inscrit quatre buts dans la compétition.
On a eu droit à une explication serré entre le Zimbabwe et la Namibie dans la petite finale. C’est le pays hôte qui a sauvé l’honneur en remportant la médaille de bronze après s’être imposé 1-0. Les Zimbabwéens ont terminé au second rang de la poule A avec neuf unités. Ils ont connu quelques difficultés dans ce match de classement. La faute à une défense namibienne très organisée.
Chez les filles, l’Afrique du Sud a rapidement pris les devants dans cette finale. Les Sud-Africaines, intenables depuis le début de la compétition, ont d’abord profité d’un léger flottement dans la défense adverse pour débloquer la situation. Malgré plusieurs tentatives des redoutables botswanaises, l’Afrique du Sud tenait le bon bout et allait même doublé la marque. En fin de match, les Sud-Africaines plantaient une troisième banderille alors que le but du Botswana ne fut qu’anecdotique.
Dans le match de classement, le Mozambique s’est imposé sur le score fleuve de 4-0. Les Mozambicaines n’ont en fait pas souffert pour obtenir le bronze dans ce match à sens unique. A l’origine, c’est le Malawi qui aurait dû disputer cette troisième place. Mais suite à une interprétation des règlements et après discussion avec le département concerné de la CAF, il a été décidé que c’est le Mozambique qui devait disputer le match pour la médaille de bronze contre la Namibie dans la compétition féminine.
Au niveau des récompenses individuelles, le prix du fair-play est revenu à la Namibie, le titre de meilleure gardienne a été attribué à Angel Zibula de l’Afrique du Sud alors que la meilleure buteuse est Khwezi Khoza également de l’Afrique du Sud. Le titre de meilleure joueuse de la compétition a été décerné à sa partenaire Katleho Malebana. L’Afrique du Sud réalise donc un carton dans cette édition.
África do Sul conquista “regional” escolar da CAF em dose dupla
A selecção feminina de sub-15 da África do Sul, venceu hoje, a sua congénere do Botswana, por 3-1, no Gateway High School, a final da segunda edição do Campeonato Africano de Futebol Escolar da CAF | Eliminatórias COSAFA, Zimbabwe-2023, enquanto que em masculinos, a seleção do mesmo país, venceu no desempate das grandes penalidades, a sua similar do Malawi por 3-0, depois de um empate a uma bola no período regulamentar.
Com as qualificações já garantidas para a fase continental e, para além dos prémios individuais, os vencedores de cada categoria foram igualmente agraciados com prémios monetários. Coube ao primeiro classificado o montante de 100.000 dólares americanos, enquanto que o segundo e o terceiro encaixaram 75.000.00 e 500.000.00 dólares, respectivamente.
No que a premiação das raparigas diz respeito, a Katleho Malebana (África do Sul) arrecadou o prémio de melhor jogadora do torneio, enquanto que a as suas compatriotas Angel Zibula e Khwezi Khoza, levaram consigo os prémios de melhor guarda-redes e bota de ouro, respectivamente. A selecção da Namíbia, por sua vez, foi considerada a equipa “Fair Play”.
Moçambique conquista bronze
Na luta pela medalha de bronze, Moçambique, acabou sendo repescada, terminou a prova no pódio ocupando o terceiro lugar em femininos, depois de vencer, hoje, a sua similar da Namíbia por 4-0. Victoria Tennyson, artilheira da turma moçambicana foi a autora dos quatro tentos que conferiram o triunfo das comandadas de Júlia Fumo.
A jogadora conquistou pela terceira vez o prémio de melhor jogadora em campo e, já dá mostras de um futuro promissor à semelhança de vários talentos que emergem nesta competição.
Referir que este jogo deveria ser disputado entre Malawi e Namíbia e, não Moçambique, mas na sequência da análise dos regulamentos de desempate e da discussão com o Departamento de Escolas da CAF, a decisão consensual favoreceu aos moçambicanos.
Vale recordar que Malawi não sofreu nenhum golo nos jogos da fase de grupos, mas dois empates custaram o seu afastamento. A equação era complicada, com três equipas a terminarem com oito pontos na classificação final. Depois de o confronto diretco não ter conseguido separá-las, a decisão acabou por se resumir à diferença de golos em todos os jogos da fase de grupos entre o Botswana e Moçambique, depois de o Malawi ter sido eliminado do primeiro lugar por não ter marcado qualquer golo contra os seus dois rivais.
Importa frisar que quando o presidente da Confederação Africana de Futebol, Patrice Motsepe, lançou este projecto, foram desembolsados dez milhões de dólares norte-americanos pela Fundação Motsepe. O casal Patrice e Precious Motsepe, doou a este projecto, assumindo dessa forma o compromisso em desenvolver o futebol em África a partir das escolas, dai que pela sua grandeza conta com o apoio da própria CAF e da Federação Internacional de Futebol (FIFA).
Os campeões regionais em ambos sexos irão, por sua vez, disputar a fase final (continental) do Campeonato Africano de Futebol Escolar, num país por indicar.
