Zambia and Tanzania claimed emphatic victories at the 2019 COSAFA Women’s Under-20 Championships on Sunday to seal their place in the semifinals of the inaugural competition.
The East African guest nation defeated Eswatini 8-0 to showcase their quality and highlight their potential as possible champions.
Aisha Masaka scored a hat-trick, the first of the tournament, to set Tanzania on their way, while Enekia Kasonga Lunyamila (two), Ester Gindulya, Irene Kisisa and Shamimu Salum also got their names on the scoresheet.
Zambia sealed their place in the semifinals with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Botswana, and will now face a winner-takes-all clash with Tanzania on Tuesday for top-spot in the pool.
Maylan Mulenga netted two goals to take her tally for the tournament to four and to the top of the scorers’ charts. Thandiwe Ndhlovu and Mary Mambwe netted the other goals, while Theo George was on target for Botswana.
They will now wait to see the completion of the other pool, which will take place on Monday.
Hosts South Africa face Mozambique at the Gelvandale Stadium at 10h00 (08h00 GMT), needing just a point to seal their place in the next stage.
Namibia and Zimbabwe meet in the other fixture at the Wolfson Stadium at the same time, and with both teams on three points, it is a winner-takes-all scenario.
A point will favour Zimbabwe as they are ahead on goal-difference.
Monday will also see the final round of matches in Groups A and C in the COSAFA Women’s Championship.
South Africa need just a point against Madagascar at the Wolfson Stadium (12h45 kick-off; 10h45 GMT) to secure top spot in the pool and a place in the semifinals.
They will be without skipper Janine van Wyk, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a knee injury picked up in Friday’s 3-1 win over Malawi.
If Madagascar can grab a victory, and Malawi defeat Comoros Islands at the Gelvandale Stadium (12h45; 10h45 GMT) as expected, it would leave all three sides on six points and time for the calculators to determine which side advances.
Only the top team in each pool and the best-placed runner-up move to the semifinals.
Group C will also conclude as Zimbabwe and Eswatini (15h30; 13h30 GMT) battle it out for top spot in the pool and a semifinal place at the Wolfson Stadium.
Zimbabwe will need just a draw given their superior goal-difference, but it is a tough game to call with both sides in form.
At the same time, Angola and Mozambique will play at the Gelvandale Stadium to avoid the wooden spoon in the pool.
Matches at both venues have FREE entry to fans, who can collect tickets from:
COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Spar – Daku
Spar – New Brighton
Spar – Zonke (Motherwell)
U Save – Opposite Wolfson Stadium
COSAFA WOMEN’S UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP
Spar – Gelvandale
Spar – Espen Heights
Spar – Algoa
Spar – Algoa Foods
COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
MONDAY’S FIXTURES
12h45 (10h45 GMT) – South Africa vs Madagascar – Wolfson Stadium
12h45 (10h45 GMT) – Malawi vs Comoros – Gelvandale Stadium
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Zimbabwe vs Eswatini – Wolfson Stadium
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Mozambique vs Angola – Gelvandale Stadium
STANDINGS
GROUP A P W D L GF GA PTS
South Africa 2 2 0 0 20 1 6
Madagascar 2 1 0 1 5 3 3
Malawi 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
Comoros Islands 2 0 0 2 1 22 0
GROUP B P W D L GF GA PTS
Zambia 2 2 0 0 18 2 6
Botswana 2 2 0 0 4 0 6
Namibia 2 0 0 2 2 4 0
Mauritius 2 0 0 2 0 18 0
GROUP C P W D L GF GA PTS
Zimbabwe 2 2 0 0 8 1 6
Eswatini 2 2 0 0 7 1 6
Mozambique 2 0 0 2 1 7 0
Angola 2 0 0 2 1 8 0
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 12
Goals scored: 70
Biggest victory: South Africa 17 Comoros Islands 0 (Group A, July 31)
Most goals in a game: 17 – South Africa 17 Comoros Islands 0 (Group A, July 31)
GOALSCORERS
8 goals – Rachel Nachula (Zambia)
4 – Refiloe Jane (South Africa), Amanda Mthandi (South Africa), Rudo Neshamba (Zimbabwe)
2 – Grace Chanda (Zambia),Hilda Magaia (South Africa), Bambanani Mbane (South Africa), Tenanile Mgcamphalala (Eswatini), Emmaculate Msipa (Zimbabwe), Hellen Mubanga (Zambia), Mary Mwakapila (Zambia), Marjoury Nyaumwe (Zimbabwe), Marie Rasoanandrasana (Madagascar), Nomvula Sanga (Eswatini)
1 – Michelle Abueng (Botswana), Kholosa Biyana (South Africa), Noxolo Cesane (South Africa), Hellen Chanda (Zambia), Theresa Chewe (Zambia), Rhoda Chileshe (Zambia), Zenatha Coleman (Namibia), Keitumetse Dithebe (Botswana), Phumzile Dlamini (Eswatini), Ode Fulutudilu (South Africa), Esalenna Galekhutle (Botswana), Sibonelo Gwebu (Eswatini), Zainabu Kapanda (Malawi), Annouscka Kordom (Namibia), Lucia (Mozambique), Tiisetso Makhubela (South Africa), Mamello Makhabane (South Africa), Cristina Makua (Angola), Wafat Mari (Comoros Islands), Tshegofatso Mosotho (Botswana), Busiswe Ndimeni (South Africa), Hanitriniana Nivonirina (Madagascar), Lebogang Ramalepe (South Africa), Aimée Razanampiavy (Madagascar), Solomampionona Razananivo (Madagascar), Nonhle Simelane (Eswatini), Asimenye Simwaka (Malawi), Salome Vinkhumbu (Malawi)
Own goals –Marie Jerome (Mauritius), Hanifa Melanie (Comoros Islands)
COSAFA WOMEN’S UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
SUNDAY’S RESULTS
All Gelvandale Stadium
Botswana 1(George 45′) Zambia 4 (Mulenga 20′, 68′, Ndhlovu 45′, Mambwe 62′)
Tanzania 8 (Kasonga Lunyamila 24′, 74′, Masaka 39′, 51′, 58′, Kisisa 44′, Salum 75′, Gindulya 87’) Eswatini 0
MONDAY’S FIXTURES
10h00 (08h00 GMT) – South Africa vs Mozambique – Gelvandale Stadium
10h00 (08h00 GMT) – Namibia vs Zimbabwe – Wolfson Stadium
STANDINGS
GROUP A P W D L GF GA PTS
South Africa (Q) 2 2 0 0 4 0 6
Zimbabwe 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
Namibia 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
Mozambique 2 0 0 2 1 6 0
GROUP B P W D L GF GA PTS
Tanzania (Q) 2 2 0 0 10 0 6
Zambia (Q) 2 2 0 0 8 1 6
Botswana 2 0 0 2 1 6 0
Eswatini 2 0 0 2 0 12 0
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 8
Goals scored: 30
Biggest victory: Tanzania 8 Eswatini 0 (Group B, August 4)
Most goals in a game: 8 – Tanzania 8 Eswatini 0 (Group B, August 4)
GOALSCORERS
4 goals – Maylan Mulenga (Zambia)
3 – Aisha Masaka (Tanzania)
2 – Shakeerah Jacobs (South Africa), Enekia Kasonga Lunyamila (Tanzania), Mary Mambwe (Zambia)
1 – Veronica April (Namibia), Dinah Banda (Zimbabwe), Talent Bizeki (Zimbabwe), Ember Edwards (South Africa), Theo George (Botswana), Ester Gindulya (Tanzania), Indira Jacobs (Namibia), Tyla-Bree Joss (South Africa), Irene Kisisa (Tanzania), Dulce Lopes (Mozambique), Rennie Mudimu (Zimbabwe), Thandiwe Ndhlovu (Zambia), Shamimu Salum (Tanzania), Opa Sanga (Tanzania), Cynthia Shonga (Zimbabwe)
Own goals – Ncedo Gamedze (Eswatini), Thuto Radipitse (Botswana)
