Zambia and East African guest nation Tanzania have booked their place in Saturday’s final of the 2020 COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championships, sealing qualification with one round of matches still to play.
The pair have nine points at the top of the five-team pool and cannot be caught, which means hosts South Africa, Zimbabwe and Comoros will play their final games of the tournament on Thursday.
Zambia sealed their spot with a comprehensive 3-0 success over the Comoros, with much of the damage done in the first half.
Comfort Selemani headed them ahead from a corner as they put pressure on the islanders’ goal, before the lead was doubled just before halftime.
Zambia were handed a spot-kick and Tisilile Lungu scored at the third attempt after Comoros goalkeeper Said Amina saved the initial penalty, and then again from the rebound, but the Lungu was able to finally bury the chance as the defence proved too sluggish to clear the danger.
The points were sealed just past the hour-mark when Bupe Banda netted her first goal of the tournament with a looping shot from the edge of the box that nestled in the corner of the net.
Tanzania made light work of Zimbabwe, racing into a 5-0 lead inside 31 minutes and never looking back, claiming a 10-1 success in the end.
Protasia Mbunda profited from a goalkeeping error to give her side the lead in the opening minute, before tournament leading scorer Aisha Masaka turned provider for Koku Kipanga.
Irene Kisisa, Shehat Mohamedi and Ester Gindulya all added further goals before the break.
The second half was less frantic as the rain started to pelt down and broke up the rhythm of the play.
But Zawadi Athuman, Mohamedi, Neema Shibara (two) and tournament leading scorer Aisha Masaka, who netted her ninth goal of the campaign, did add further damage for the Tanzanians.
Zimbabwe were able to get a consolation through Rudo Machadu as she bundled the ball home when a free-kick was only parried into her path.
The final round of pool fixtures will be played on Thursday with nothing but pride to play for.
South Africa will look to finish their disappointing campaign on a high when they tackle Comoros Islands (12h30), having only won one of their three matches to date. It would also ensure the consolation of third place.
Zambia have already ensured they will finish top of the pool with a superior head-to-head record against Tanzania, so can afford to rotate some players against Zimbabwe (kick-off 15h30).
That might well be the case with the final just two days later and the need for fresh legs against the impressive Tanzanians.
Also being played on Thursday are the semifinals of the COSAFA Women’s Championship with two potentially epic clashes in store.
Botswana are appearing at this stage of the competition for the second time running and will take on Zambia in the first game (12h30).
It is a repeat of the 2019 semifinal where Zambia ran out handsome 4-0 winners, but The Mares will believe they have improved markedly since that game and will be confident of a much closer tie.
Olympics-bound Zambia have powerhouse forward Barbra Banda in their side though and unless Botswana can get to grips with her, it could be a long afternoon.
Defending champions South Africa also face a huge challenge in the form of Malawi (15h30) and in particular the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, who have already proven two quality performers in this competition.
South Africa have yet to concede a goal in their three games to date, but like Botswana will have to be sharp in defence if they are to maintain that record.
Malawi are appearing in the semifinals for the first time since 2011 … when they were beaten 5-1 by South Africa.
No fans will be allowed access into the stadiums, but the senior championship matches will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport’s Variety4 in South Africa, and Variety 4 Africa and Go Select 2, as well as being streamed LIVE on www.cosafa.tv. The Under-17 games will also be on COSAFA.TV.
COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
THURSDAY’S FIXTURES
Semifinals
12h00 (10h00 GMT) – Botswana vs Zambia
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – South Africa vs Malawi
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 9 |
| Angola | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 3 |
| Comoros Islands | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 1 |
*In order to calculate the best-placed runner-up, the matches involving last-placed Comoros Islands were discarded. So the standings are therefore: South Africa – 6 pts, +7; Angola – 3 pts, -1; Eswatini – 0 pts, -6
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Malawi (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 6 |
| Zambia (Q) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| Lesotho | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | -17 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Botswana (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Tanzania | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 12
Goals scored: 50
Biggest victory: Malawi 9 Lesotho 0 (Group B, November 7)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Malawi 9 Lesotho 0 (Group B, November 7)
GOALSCORERS
6 goals – Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Sibulele Holweni (South Africa)
3 – Barbra Banda (Zambia), Cristina Makua (Angola), Tenanile Ngcamphalala (Eswatini)
2 – Grace Chanda (Zambia), Temwa Chawinga (Malawi), Phumzile Dlamini (Eswatini), Nomvula Kgoale (South Africa), Gabriela Salgado (South Africa)
1 – Ana Afonso (Angola), Beatriz Augusto (Angola), Prisca Chilufya (Zambia), Karabo Dlamini (South Africa), Anllaouia Hadhirami Ali (Comoros Islands), Zaharouna Haoudadji (Comoros Islands), Abdourahmane Hairyat (Comoros Islands), Zainabu Kapanda (Malawi), Ireen Lungu (Zambia), Hilda Magaia (South Africa), Lonathemba Mhlongo (South Africa), Thanda Mokgabo (Botswana), Nonhlanhla Mthandi (South Africa), Maylan Mulenga (Zambia), Celiwe Nkambule (Eswatini), Mokgale Nonjabuliso (Eswatini), Kadosho Shekigenda (Tanzania), Asimenye Simwaka (Malawi), Tebogo Tholekele (Botswana)
COSAFA WOMEN’S UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Zambia 3 (Selemani 17’, Lungu 44’, B. Banda 61’) Comoros 0
Tanzania 10 (Mbunda 1′, Kipanga 8′, Kisisa 13′, Mohamedi 19′, 89’, Gindulya 31′, Athuman 55’, Shibara 71’, 87’, Masaka 83’) Zimbabwe 1 (Machadu 78’)
THURSDAY’S FIXTURES
12h30 (10h30 GMT) – South Africa vs Comoros
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Zambia vs Zimbabwe
STANDINGS
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| Zambia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| Tanzania | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 9 |
| South Africa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| Zimbabwe | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 19 | -15 | 3 |
| Comoros | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 8
Goals scored: 45
Biggest victory: Tanzania 10 Zimbabwe 1 (November 10)
Most goals in a game: 11 – Tanzania 10 Zimbabwe 1 (November 10)
GOALSCORERS
9 goals – Aisha Masaka (Tanzania)
3 – Jessica Wade (South Africa)
2 – Cindy Banda (Zambia), Protasia Mbunda (Tanzania), Nabeelah Galant (South Africa), Mwanamvua Haruna (Tanzania), Tisilile Lungu (Zambia), Noussrat Mistoihi (Comoros), Shehat Mohamedi (Tanzania), Neema Shibara (Tanzania)
1 – Zawadi Athuman (Tanzania), Bupe Banda (Zambia), Taonga Chulu (Zambia), Mohamed Dalila (Comoros), Ester Gindulya (Tanzania), Koku Kipanga (Tanzania), Irene Kisisa (Tanzania), Jade Leask (South Africa), Joyce Lema (Tanzania), Rudo Machadu (Zimbabwe), Ropafadzo Maferefa (Zimbabwe), Oyisa Marhasi (South Africa), Brenda Ndarowa (Zimbabwe), Morelife Nyagumbo (Zimbabwe), Tyler Scott (South Africa), Comfort Selemani (Zambia)
Own goal – Shehat Mohamedi (Tanzania)
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La Tanzanie et la Zambie en finale
10 buts ont été inscrits au cours de l’avant-dernière journée de l’unique groupe en lice dans la COSAFA U17 Championship. Une avant-dernière sortie qui a vu la Tanzanie et la Zambie valider leur billet pour la finale de l’édition 2020 du tournoi.
La Zambie n’a eu aucun mal pour disposer des Comores. Les Zambiennes se sont imposées 3-0 grâce à des réalisations signées Selemani, Lung et Bupe. Le score aurait pu être plus lourd. Toutefois, l’abnégation des Coelacanthes, surnom donné à la sélection comorienne de football, a été exemplaire. Bien que dominé dans tous les compartiments, les Comores sont restées solidaires.
La Zambie, après trois matchs disputés, se retrouve en position de dauphin avec neuf unités au compteur. Les Zambiennes ne peuvent plus être rejointes au classement. Elles joueront leur dernier match de poule contre le Zimbabwe le jeudi 12 novembre à 15h30. Une rencontre qui se déroulera sur la pelouse de The Oval.
Le carton de la journée est à mettre au crédit de la Tanzanie. Les Tanzaniennes n’ont eu aucun mal pour se défaire du Zimbabwe. Elles se sont imposées 10-1 dans un festival de but qui a vu presque tout l’effectif de l’invitée du tournoi marqué un but. Seule Mohamedi a inscrit un doublé dans ce match à sens unique. Le Zimbabwe a sauvé l’honneur en fin de partie en trouvant la faille par l’entremise de Machadu.
Dès l’entame, l’on savait qu’un estival de buts se préparait. Ce sentiment allait prendre forme dès la 2e minute après l’ouverture du score signée Mbunda. Il y aura ensuite Kipanga (8e), Kisisa (13e) ou encore Mohamedi (19e). La défense du Zimbabwe, complètement absente, n’a guère opposé de résistance.
La Zambie affrontera donc la Tanzanie en finale. Une finale explosive qui demeure indécise.
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Tanzania e Zâmbia disputam final do sub-17 COSAFA-2020!
As selecções da Zâmbia e da Tanzania, que venceram respectivamente, as suas congéneres das Comores (3-0) e do Zimbabwe por 10-1, na terceira jornada do Campeonato Feminino de Sub-17 do Conselho das Associações de Futebol da África Austral (COSAFA), irão disputar a final desta competição, agendada para o dia 14 de Novembro, no Westbourne Oval Stadium, pelas 11.00 horas.
Do lado da Zâmbia marcaram Selemani (15´), Lungu (42´) e Bupe (60´), sendo que para a Tanzania, os golos ficaram a cargo de Mbunda (59s), Kipanga (11´), Kisisa (13´), Mohamedi (19´ e 88´), Gindulya (31´), Athuman (55´), Masaka (71´ e 82´) e Lema (86´) e o Zimbabwe reduziu o marcador por intermédio de Rudu Machadu aos 78 minutos.
Com efeito, as duas equipas partilham a liderança na pauta classificativa, ambas com nove (9) pontos, o que pressupõe dizer que a possibilidade de a África do Sul e do Zimbabwe, dois concorrentes directos, chegarem a final é nula, visto que, segundo o regulamento, avançam apenas a selecção com o maior número de pontos e a segunda melhor classificada de todas.
A liderança da Tanzania é também expressa pelo maior número golos marcados (21), tendo consentido apenas três (3), contra dois da Zâmbia, esta que conseguiu marcar apenas sete golos.
Lembrar que a África do Sul e o Zimbabwe, ambas com três pontos, ainda que vençam os últimos jogos, diante das Comores e da Zâmbia, respectivamente, não poderão alterar o alinhamento final.
Lembrar que, a primeira edição desta competição foi conquistada pela convidada selecção do Uganda que venceu a sua congénere da África do Sul por 2-1, na final realizada, no Estádio Francois Xavier, onde Juliet Nalukenge foi eleita melhor jogadora em campo e melhor marcadora do torneio com 18 golos marcados. Infelizmente as representantes da África Ocidental não estão presentes este ano.
Zâmbia com serviços mínimos
Obrigada a vencer diante das Comores, a Zâmbia assumiu desde cedo, as despesas do jogo procurando visar o mais rápido possível a baliza contrária. Não tardou para que surgisse o primeiro golo. Estavam apenas jogados os primeiros 15 minutos, quando a defesa a serviço do Solwezi Academy da Zâmbia, Comfort Selemani, atirou a contar. A apática selecção das Comores, pouco fazia se não defender-se como podia.
Ainda assim, as dificuldades em travar a progressão das zambianas, por parte das representantes insulares era uma tarefa um tanto a quanto difícil e, tornava-se difícil evitar as faltas. Foi na sequência de um toque de bola na mão, por parte de uma das defesas contrárias, que a Zâmbia chegou ao segundo golo, na cobrança de uma grande penalidade convertida por Tisilile Lungu a passagem do minuto 42.
A treinadas de Kangwa Kaluba, técnica da formação zambiana, desperdiçaram a oportunidade de dilatar o score, após falharem uma grande penalidade, no terceiro minuto de compensação, após o final da primeira etapa.
À entrada para a segunda parte, a supremacia zambiana veio ao de cima. Depois de operar algumas substituições no seu xadrez, a Zâmbia conferiu outra frescura na equipa. Bupe Banda que entrou a substituir, selou com o chave de ouro marando 3-0, resultado que prevaleceu até o apito final. Triste sina para as Comores que voltaram a somar a sua terceira derrota e, sem possibilidades de garantir o seu lugar na final.
