Zambia and Angola will battle it out for supremacy in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Under 17 Africa Cup of Nations| COSAFA Qualifier on Friday, having already secured their place in the continental finals.
Hosts South Africa were defeated 2-1 by Zambia while Angola beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in the semi-finals that were played at the University of Johannesburg’s AW Muller Stadium on Wednesday.
The South African winger Emile Witbooi, who kept the supporters on the edge of their seats due to his effective trickery in the final third, provided an assist in the first minute to Siphiwe Mlondo to score from inside the penalty area.
Zambia’s right-sided forward Mapalo Simute delivered crosses but his teammates making runs into the penalty area did not get to the end of those deliveries. Offensively, Zambia mostly played direct football.
South Africa were great in combination play. They troubled Zambia with quick short passes but could not score more goals in the first half despite dominating in the final third.
Zambia were awarded a penalty that Abel Nyirongo scored in the 22nd minute to equalise after a VAR check.
After a lengthy VAR check, Zambia attacking midfielder Vincent Mutondo was red-carded in the 24th minute having recklessly tackled Mlondo. However, in the first half during the additional time, South African goalkeeper Lwandiso Radebe blocked the ball with his hands outside the penalty area and after a VAR check, he was also sent off.
Zambia scored their second in the 68th minute after the ball went through goalkeeper Lehlohonolo Mosia’s legs at the near post and substitute Robert Banda pounced on the loose ball to net from inside the goal area.
In the first semi-final, Angola troubled Zimbabwe but could not find the space behind the back four due to the deep defensive line as they mostly wanted to penetrate with quick short passes.
Angola’s Omar Oliviera enticed defenders on the left flank, cut inside to either combine with attacking midfielder Jairo Muanha or take shots from distance. Additionally, Omar provided good crosses into the penalty area although they were not converted.
Zimbabwe’s Valentine Macheka took shots from distance and in the 31st minute, he hit the crossbar after Zimbabwe were awarded a free kick near the penalty arc.
After numerous attempts at goal, Angola finally took the lead through Eliseu Francisco in the 43rd minute from Omar’s assist.
In the second half, Zimbabwe were the better side but could not convert the chances they created. Then in the 63rd minute, Omar doubled Angola’s lead after a great line-breaking pass from Joao Capitao Manelson.
Friday’s final will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow the action from this dedicated tournament page.
Meanwhile, Zambia will face Lesotho in the final of the of the 2024 COSAFA Under-17 Girls Championship at UJ Soweto Stadium on Friday following their respective wins over Madagascar and Mozambique in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Zambia put in another dominant performance as they defeated Madagascar 3-0 in the first semi-final.
Hellen Banda opened the scoring as early as the 10th minute. The side wasted several chances in front of goal with Grace Phiri coming close to doubling the lead one-on-one with the goalkeeper at the half-hour mark but was denied by Alda Fazitady.
However Phiri got on the score sheet two minutes later with her fourth goal of the tournament and gave Zambia a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Zambia continued where they left off in the second half but couldn’t penetrate the Malagasy defence. They got an opportunity to add a third goal in the 63rd minute through Phiri but she was denied by the keeper.
Madagascar also came close to pulling one back 10 minutes later through Volana Andrianarison but she could not beat the Zambia keeper. With eight minute to go, captain fantastic Mercy Chipasula scored the third, her sixth goal of the tournament which took her to second position on the top goal scorer list, joint with teammate Masela Sekeseke.
Chipasula also earned her third Player of the Match award as Zambia booked their second successive final appearance.
In the second semi-final between Mozambique and Lesotho, it came down to the very last second of the game for the debuts to break Mozambican hearts and book a spot in the final in their first time.
The sides could not be separated in 90 minutes being familiar with each other from the group stages, where Mozambique won 2-0.
Lesotho looked better team this time round and enjoyed possession but could not make that count in front of goal. They went into the break deadlocked. Lesotho took the game to Mozambique again but could not beat the goalkeeper. Teresa Gogolo had a half-chance to give her side the lead late in the second half but missed the target.
Then Nteboheleng Sooane broke the Mozambican hearts in injury time, scoring the goal that sent her side into a historic final.
TOTALENERGIES U-17 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2025 | COSAFA QUALIFIER STATISTICS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Group B – UJ Soweto Stadium
Angola 2 (Francisco 43′, Oliveira 63′) Zimbabwe 0
Zambia 2 (Nyirongo 22’pen, Banda 68’) South Africa 1 (Mlondo 1′)
FRIDAY’S FIXTURE
Final – UJ Soweto Stadium
Angola vs Zambia (15h00 CAT; 13h00 GMT)
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 20
Goals scored: 67
Biggest victory: Zambia 8 Namibia 0 (Group B, December 5)
Most goals in a game: 8 – Zambia 8 Namibia 0 (Group B, December 5); Namibia 4 Zimbabwe 4 (Group B, December 9)
GOALSCORERS
5 goals – Abel Nyirongo (Zambia), El Shaddai Sadomba (Zimbabwe)
3 – Valentine Macheka (Zimbabwe), Rethabile Nqoko (Lesotho), Gabriel Phiri (Zambia), Mapalo Simute (Zambia)
2 – Tadiwa Chakuchichi (Zimbabwe), Eliseu Francisco (Angola), James Lumbe (Malawi), Kamohelo Maraletse (South Africa), Brayton Paulse (Namibia), Selwyn Stevens (South Africa), Kgosi Tshidi (Botswana)
1 – Robert Banda (Zambia), Jose Baptiste (Angola), Neo Bohloko (South Africa), Clifford Chisale (Malawi),Aviwe Dlamini (Eswatini), Menzi Dlamini (Eswatini), Adriano Gawab (Namibia), Jonathan Kalimina (Zambia), Stephen Kamulu (Namibia), Montgomery Karuaihe (Namibia), Thuto Khetsi (Lesotho), Killo Lino (Mozambique), Densel Liyun (Angola), Paulo Luvumbo (Angola), Nthasilwe Malupande (Zambia), Kutlo Mananye (Botswana), Siphiwe Mlondo (South Africa), Yusufu Nantunga (Malawi), Omar Oliveira (Angola),Kaylan Said (Comoros), Omphemetse Sekgoto (South Africa), Levonor Timbe (Mozambique), Christiano Useb (Namibia), Emile Witbooi (South Africa)
Own goal – Milko Solunga (Namibia)
2024 GIRLS UNDER-17 COSAFA CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals – UJ Soweto Stadium
Madagascar 0 Zambia 3 (Banda 10′, Phiri 32′, Chipasula 81′)
Mozambique 0 Lesotho 1 (Sooane 90’)
FRIDAY’S FIXTURE
Final – UJ Soweto Stadium
Zambia vs Lesotho (11h00 CAT; 09h00 GMT)
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 20
Goals scored: 94
Biggest victory: Comoros 0 Lesotho 10 (Group A, December 6); Zambia 10 Mauritius 0 (Group C, December 9)
Most goals in a game: 10 – Comoros 0 Lesotho 10 (Group A, December 6); Zambia 10 Mauritius 0 (Group C, December 9)
GOALSCORERS
7 goals – Ntsamaeng Tholo (Lesotho)
6 – Mercy Chipasula (Zambia), Masela Sekeseke (Zambia)
4 – Grace Phiri (Zambia)
3 – Jean Fyson (Malawi), Keotshepile Kesetse (Botswana), Leonay Kock (South Africa), Natasha Nkaka (Zambia), Volana (Madagascar)
2 – Angele (Madagascar), Ana Armando (Mozambique), Teresa Gogolo (Mozambique), Lweendo Hanongo (Zambia), Chiedza Khumalo (Zimbabwe), Hope Lesotlo (Botswana), Nishaat Levy (South Africa), Tebello Lesala (Lesotho), Boiketlo Molise (Lesotho), Asimenye Mwanyongo (Malawi), Oliva (Madagascar), Itumeleng Phiri (Lesotho), Nteboheleng Sooane (Lesotho), Victoria Tennyson (Mozambique), Faluna Umali (Malawi)
1 – Hellen Banda (Zambia), Talandira Chinyamula (Malawi), Marie Clair (Mauritius), Judite Cumbi (Mozambique), Jiscaniah (Madagascar), Tatenda Gambiza (Zimbabwe), Fatima Houana (Mozambique), Khwezi Khoza (South Africa), Fatima Lali (Malawi), Louisa (Madagascar), Katlego Mohale (South Africa), Katlego Malebana (South Africa), Lekenyane Mampona (Lesotho), Sphesihle Maseko (Eswatini), Victoria Mkwala (Malawi), Thato Molete (Lesotho), Esther Ngabwe (Zambia), Anna Njere (Zimbabwe), Amogelang Sebotho (Botswana), Okuhle Sithole (South Africa), Seabe Thelo (Zimbabwe), Shirley Tokonyane (Botswana), Vola (Madagascar)
Own goals – Hazel Kanyuru (Zimbabwe), Parissa Merven (Mauritius), Nasaina Tahiajee (Mauritius)
L’Angola et la Zambie en finale chez les garçons
On connait l’affiche de la finale du Totalenergies U-17 Africa Cup Of Nations 2025 | Cosafa Qualifier. Ce sera l’Angola face à la Zambie. L’Angola a une nouvelle fois exposé toutes ses qualités dans un match couperet en dominant le Zimbabwe. Réalistes, les Angolais n’ont pas vraiment souffert pour plier le match et ont démontré qu’il faudra compter sur eux pour la Coupe d’Afrique des nations des moins de 17 ans. Pourtant, le Zimbabwe a démarré le match en montrant beaucoup de volonté. Mais il faut déjà marqué dans un match pour espérer aller plus loin et hélas, les Zimbabwéens n’ont pas su le faire.
Et à force de laisser passer les occasions on le paie cher. Ainsi, Francisco (43e) et Oliveira (62e) ne se sont pas fait prier pour mettre l’Angola à l’abri en trouvant le cadre. Après avoir pris leur distance, les Angolais ont parfaitement su gérer la fin de rencontre. De son côté, la Zambie a souffert contre l’Afrique du Sud mais est parvenu à s’octroyer sa place pour la finale. Les Zambiens se sont appuyés sur Nyirongo (22e) et Banda (67e) pour faire la différence.
En face, l’Afrique du Sud avait pourtant idéalement débuté le match en ouvrant le score dès la première minute de jeu par le truchement de Mlondo. Mais les locaux n’ont pas su pérenniser cette avance.
La Zambie affrontera le Lesotho ce vendredi dans la finale du Championnat de la COSAFA réservé aux filles âgées de moins de 17 ans. Les deux formations donnent donc rendez-vous à partir de 11h. Mercredi, les Zambiennes sont venues à bout de Madagascar sur le score de 3-0. Banda, Phiri et Chipasula ont été les buteuses. Banda a rapidement débloqué la situation dès la 10e minute avant que Phiri ne fasse le break à la demi-heure de jeu. Quelques minutes avant la fin du temps réglementaire, Chipasula a donné plus de relief au score.
Madagascar a tenté de répondre à plusieurs reprises mais leur milieu de terrain a quelques peu manqué de communication alors que devant, les représentantes de la Grande île n’ont pas été efficace dans le dernier geste. L’aventure s’arrête donc en demi-finale pour les Malgaches qui ont créé la sensation durant cette compétition en alignant trois succès dans la phase de groupe, éliminant au passage l’Afrique du Sud. Les Zambiennes tenteront pour leur part, d’émuler les Copper Queens qui s’étaient imposées dans le Championnat féminin Senior de la COSAFA au mois d’août.
Un petit but de Nteboheleng Sooanea été suffisant pour permettre au Lesotho de franchir l’obstacle du dernier carré. Les Lesothanes étaient opposées au Mozambique et ont su prendre leur revanche. En effet, durant la phase de groupe, ce sont le Mozambicaines qui avait battus le Lesotho.
Conhecidos semifinalistas do COSAFA- 2024
As selecções de Angola e da Zâmbia (actual campeã) vão disputar, nesta sexta-feira, às 15h00, no UJ Soweto Stadium, a final de mais uma edição da TotalEnergies CAF do Campeonato Sub-17 da COSAFA em masculinos, qualificativo para o Campeonato Africano das Nações (CAN), que será disputado na Costa do Marfim no próximo ano. Frisar que os finalistas garantem automaticamente a presença na fase final deste evento continental.
Com efeito, os angolanos levaram a melhor, hoje, sobre a sua congénere do Zimbabwe, por 2-0, com os golos de Eliseu Francisco (42′) e Omar Oliveira (62′), numa partida claramente dominada pelas “Palanquinhas”, que uma vez mais espalharam a fragrância do seu talento sob comando do experimentado técnico Domingos da Silva, que soube anular a estratégia montada pela equipa adversária.
As “Palanquinhas” chegaram às meias-finais, depois de terem vencido o seu arquirrival e país irmão, Moçambique, por 1-0, na derradeira jornada da fase de grupos, carimbando deste modo o passaporte para a fase eliminatória. A Seleção Angolana alcançou sete pontos e assegurou a liderança do Grupo A. Anteriormente, tinham vencido Lesoto por 2-1 e empatado a um golo com o Malawi.
Já o Zimbabwe, que avançou para esta fase como o segundo melhor classificado do Grupo B, terminou com os mesmos pontos que Moçambique (4), mas levou a melhor no saldo de golos marcados, confirmando assim o seu lugar na fase final.
Angola está em busca da conquista do seu terceiro título na Taça COSAFA Sub-17. Anteriormente, venceu a competição em 2018 e 2021, enquanto a Zâmbia irá procurar defender o título conquistado no ano passado, curiosamente frente a África do Sul (1-0), que ainda não quebrou o enguiço. Ruiu o sonho de chegar a Costa do Marfim.
Entretanto, noutra meia-final que envolveu a Zâmbia e a África do Sul, a equipa anfitriã tomou a iniciativa de se adiantar no marcador no primeiro minuto da partida, através de Simphiwe Mlondo (1′), mas a Zâmbia conseguiu empatar na sequência de uma falta que só foi possível identificar no VAR. Na marcação, Abel Nyirongo foi certeiro e fez o 1-1. Após o reinício, a Zâmbia voltou a adiantar-se no marcador com um golo de Rober Banda aos 67 minutos. O jogo observou uma pausa inesperada devido a uma descarga atmosférica acompanhada por fortes rajadas de trovoada, mas que viria a retomar sem alterações no placard.
Quando estavam decorridos 26 minutos, os zambianos ficaram reduzidos a dez jogadores após a expulsão de Vicent Mutondo, num momento em que a Zâmbia intensificava o seu ataque. Mesmo assim, mantiveram-se compactos e não permitiram que os sul-africanos violassem a sua baliza. Estava claro que o jogo seria decidido nas grandes penalidades.
Por outro lado, no feminino, a Zâmbia assegurou a sua presença na final, onde irá disputar o título com Lesoto (11:00 horas), que venceu hoje Moçambique (1-0) graças ao golo solitário de Nteboheleng Sooane, marcado no terceiro minuto dos quatro adicionais da segunda parte. Foi um momento dramático! Lesoto (2-0) vingou a derrota sofrida contra Moçambique na terceira jornada da fase de grupos.
As zambianas não tiveram muita oposição para travar o percurso triunfante até então intacto de Madagáscar, que, depois de um percurso impecável na fase de grupos, sofreu uma derrota por 3-0. Mukoma (10′), G. Phiri (32′) e Mercy (81′) foram responsáveis pela vitória incontestável por 3-1.
Sem sofrer nenhuma derrota e com o melhor ataque do torneio, traduzido em 20 golos marcados e apenas dois sofridos, as zambianas terminaram a fase de grupos com nove pontos.
