Zimbabwe have completed the semifinal line-up at the 2023 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gauteng following a 1-1 draw with Botswana in the Group C decider on Wednesday.
They join Malawi, who topped Group A with nine points, Zambia and Mozambique, who finished in first and second places with seven points respectively from Group B.
Zambia and Zimbabwe will clash in a titanic battle in the first semifinal on Friday at 12h00, before Malawi and Mozambique go head-to-head at 15h30.
Both games will be played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville and the much anticipated Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be used for the first time at a COSAFA tournament at this stage.
Botswana survived an early injury scare against Zimbabwe as goalkeeper Lesego Moeng needed medical attention in the first minute.
Three minutes later Zimbabwe won a corner-kick and it was Priviledge Mupeti who found Ennety Chemhere, who headed home the opener in the opening five minutes to give her side the lead.
Botswana won a free-kick after 25 minutes later and captain Kesegofetse Mochawe delivered it and forced Cynthia Shonga to punch away to deny them the equaliser.
Moments later Lesego Radiakanyo found Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse in the box and she missed the target. Chemere could have extended the lead three minutes after the half hour mark from range but her shot hit the cross bar. Zimbabwe took the narrow lead into half time.
Botswana upped their tempo in the second stanza Balothanyi Johannes could have grabbed the equaliser early on but it wasn’t to be as she couldn’t find the target, The Mares piled pressure and they won a set-piece from range and the skipper Mocahwe was unlucky not to score.
Mupeti had a chance to give her side a cushion goal from a free-kick outside the box after the hour mark but she was denied by the woodwork.
Botswana didn’t give up and eventually levelled with five minutes to the final whistle through Johannes who scored her second goal of the tournament.
This is Zimbabwe‘s first international tournament since the country’s suspension was lifted by FIFA. They finished top of the Group with seven points and they are the side with the best defensive record in the group stage having conceded one goal.
Botswana return to Gaborone as runners-up in the pool with five points, followed Namibia on four points after they won 2-0 against Lesotho in the dead rubber played at the University of Johannesburg Soweto campus.
Emma Naris scored in the first half while Irene Kooper grabbed the winner in that encounter as last year’s semifinalists also bowed out of the competition.
Entrance for fans to all matches will be FREE of charge, with tickets available at the stadium on match day. They are limited to four per person. You can view all of the fixtures here.
If you cannot get to the stadium, you can watch all matches streamed LIVE on FIFA+. Games will also be carried on SuperSport.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Group C
Namibia 2 (Naris 35’, Kooper 74’) Lesotho 0
Zimbabwe 1 (Chemhere 4’) Botswana 1 (Johannes 86’)
FRIDAY’S FIXTURES
Semifinals – Lucas Moripe Stadium
Zambia vs Zimbabwe (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Malawi vs Mozambique (KO 15h30; 13h30 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Malawi (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 9 |
| South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | -10 | 3 |
| Madagascar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Mozambique (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Angola | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Comoros | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zimbabwe (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Botswana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Namibia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Lesotho | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 18
Goals scored: 61
Biggest victory: Malawi 8 Eswatini 0 (Group A, October 7)
Most goals in a game: 8 – Malawi 8 Eswatini 0 (Group A, October 7)
GOALSCORERS
7 goals – Temwa Chawinga (Malawi)
5 – Thubelihle Shamase (South Africa)
3 – Sarah Jere (Zambia), Fridah Kabwe (Zambia)
2 – Leticia Chinyamula (Malawi), Deolinda Gove (Mozambique), Balothanyi Johannes (Botswana), Luvunga (Angola), Kesegofetse Mochawe (Botswana), Sabinah Thom (Malawi)
1 – Hadhirami Ali (Comoros), Amelia Banze (Mozambique), Caupe (Angola), Emili Cazembe (Mozambique), Ennety Chemhere (Zimbabwe), Vanessa Chikupira (Malawi), Lone Gaofetoge (Botswana), Millicent Hikuam (Namibia), Rose Kadzere (Malawi), Ivone Kooper (Namibia), Sikhanyiso Magagula (Eswatini), Carolyne Mathyola (Malawi), Matuvova (Angola), Priviledge Mupeti (Zimbabwe), Rudo Neshamba (Zimbabwe), Lushomo Mweemba (Zambia), Eddelsisingh Naris (Namibia), Nobukhosi Ncube (Zimbabwe), Tenanile Ngcamphalala (Eswatini), Jackline Nkole (Zambia), Khesani Nkuna (South Africa), Rina Raharimalala (Madagascar), Mohamed Roukia (Comoros), Sambo (Angola), Samkelisiwe Selana (South Africa), Sphumelele Shamase (South Africa), Asimenye Simwaka (Malawi)
Own goal – Hadhirami Ali (Comoros)
Zimbabwe enfrenta Zâmbia nas meias-finais do COSAFA-2023
A Selecção do Zimbabwe, será o adversário da Zâmbia na segunda meia-final da 11ª edição do Campeonato Feminino HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA-2023, após empatar, hoje, no Dobsonville Stadium, com a sua congénere do Botswana, por 1-1, em partida referente a terceira e última jornada do Grupo C. Ennety Chemhere (4´), foi a autora do golo do Zimbabwe, enquanto Balothanyi Johannes (85´) marcou para Botswana.
Por seu torno, a Zâmbia confirmou a sua presença a fase eliminar graças a goleada imposta as Comores, por 5-1, mercê do “hat-trick” de Fridah Kabwe, na derradeira jornada da fase de grupos.
De resto, será uma partida interessante que marcará o reencontro de dois eternos arquirrivais e, o regresso das “Mighty Warriors” (alcunha do Zimbabwe), às competições internacionais, depois de ter visto levantada a suspensão imposta pela FIFA em 2022. Sem dúvidas que será uma espécie de final antecipada do aliciante “ZIM-ZAM”!
O último encontro entre as duas nações teve lugar em 2017, em Bulawayo, onde as anfitriãs cederam um empate a uma bola, tendo a atacante Rutendo Makore marcado o golo para as hostes da casa e, Barbra Banda, convertido para Zâmbia.
No seu percurso no COSAFA, Zimbabwe chegou à final da competição inaugural em 2002, mas perdeu para a África do Sul (2-1) na final disputada em Harare. As sul-africanas chegaram à decisão com quatro vitórias consecutivas, nas quais marcaram 36 golos, incluindo uma vitória por 15-0 sobre o Lesotho na estreia.
Na edição de 2008 em Angola, as “Mighty Warriors” não foram felizes, mas em 2011, em casa, Zimbabwe provou ser a potência regional ao derrotar a África do Sul por 1-0 na final.
À entrada para esta ronda Zimbabwe liderava a série com seis pontos e o Botswana ocupava o segundo posto com quatro pontos. Entretanto, a cumprir apenas o calendário, Namíbia, que também integra o mesmo grupo, venceu tangencialmente Lesotho por 1-0??, terminando a fase de grupos na terceira posição com quatro pontos, os mesmos que Botswana.
Por sua vez, Malawi, que terminou no topo do Grupo A com sete pontos, vai defrontar Moçambique que qualificou-se para a fase a eliminar como a segunda melhor classificada de todos os grupos, uma vez que Zâmbia, campeã em título, goleou as Comores por 5-1 e terminou na primeira posição do Grupo “B” com sete pontos, os mesmos que Moçambique.
Zâmbia é a actual campeã do torneio regional. As “Banyana Banyana” venceram sete dos últimos 10 campeonatos femininos disputados pela COSAFA. Tanzania (2021) e Zâmbia (2022) foram as outras selecções que ergueram o almejado troféu.
Bruce Mwape, técnico da Zâmbia e a sua equipa técnica estão a utilizar o torneio para se prepararem para a fase de qualificação para a Taça das Nações Africanas de 2024, em Marrocos, onde enfrentarão Angola na fase final no próximo mês.
Le Zimbabwe arrache le dernier billet
Les affiches des demi-finales de l’édition 2023 de la Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship sont connues. Le premier match opposera la Zambie au Zimbabwe. Dans le deuxième match, le Malawi affrontera la Zambie. Ces deux joutes sont prévues ce vendredi au Lucas Moripe Stadium de Pretoria. Mercredi, le Zimbabwe a été contraint au nul face au Botswana (1-1) tandis que la Namibie s’est tranquillement imposée 2-0 contre le Lesotho.
Le Zimbabwe a eu toutes les peines du monde pour boucler la phase de poule sur une bonne note. Opposés au Botswana au Dobsonville Stadium, les Zimbabwéennes ne sont pas parvenues à aligner trois victoires de rang en phase de groupe. La faute à une équipe du Botswana qui s’est battue jusqu’à la fin pour arracher le match nul. Mais la qualification a été acquises toutefois. Les Botswanaises pouvaient également prétendre à ce dernier billet mais elles se sont faites surprendre dès la 4e minute par Ennety Chemhere. Il a ensuite fallu attendre la 85e minute pour voir Balothanyi Johannes sortir de sa boite pour forcer le partage de point.
Au UJ Stadium, la Namibie – déjà éliminée avant le coup d’envoi – a su soigner sa sortie. Les Namibiennes se sont imposées 2-0 contre une équipe du Lesotho combative mais qui a manqué de réalisme dans le dernier geste. Le match, très fermé dans les premiers instants, s’est par la suite décanté. Emma Naris a mis sa formation devant après la demi-heure de jeu. Kooper a ensuite donné plus d’ampleur au score en trouvant la faille à la 73e minute.
Les rencontres du dernier carré auront lieu ce vendredi au Lucas Moripe Stadium à Pretoria. En match d’ouverture, on assistera à un grand classique dans la région. En effet, la Zambie affrontera le Zimbabwe avec la ferme intention de retenir sa couronne. Ce sera le choc de ces demi-finales. Les Zimbabwéennes ont réalisé un parcours qui se conjugue au presque parfait.
Absent de la compétition depuis plusieurs années à cause de la suspension que lui a infligé la Fifa, le Zimbabwe est bel et bien de retour aux affaires et espère surtout redorer son blason dans cette compétition régionale. Ses représentantes ont proposé un jeu intéressant jusqu’ici et constitué de passes courtes et une projection rapide vers l’avant. Les Copper Queens s’appuient, elle, surtout sur leur rapidité et leur puissance dans les duels.
Dans l’autre rencontre, le Malawi – favori à la victoire finale – défiera le Mozambique. Les Mozambicaines sont, un peu, les invitées surprises de ce carré d’As. Elles ont terminé au second rang de leur groupe avec sept unités au compteur mais avec une différence de buts moindre. Elles auront leur mot à dire face aux Malawites d’autant qu’elles pourront surtout compteur sur leur défense de fer qui n’a concédé qu’un but. Le dernier rempart c’est surtout la grande qualité du Mozambique dans cette compétition.
Le Malawi s’avance avec beaucoup de confiance dans cette compétition. Les Malawites ont scoré 15 buts en trois matchs de groupe. Un véritable festival. Avec sept buts inscrit, Temwa Chawinga est actuellement la meilleure buteuse de la compétition. Elle aura son mot à dire une nouvelle fois. Le Malawi possède également des joueuses fortes physiquement. Si son attaque a été fracassante, on dira que sa défense est moins flamboyante, en témoigne les quatre encaissés en phase de groupe.
