COSAFA U-20: Amajita to meet Young Flames in men’s final, Zambia women to face South Africa

Malawi under-20 boys’ national football team shrugged off rivals Zambia with a hard-fought 2-1 win on Friday to date South Africa in the COSAFA U-20 Championship final in Namibia (14:00 CAT, 12:00 GMT).

The final for the girls’ section will see South Africa meet Zambia after they both won their respective semifinal matches on the same day, Friday. The final will take place at UNAM Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday (11:00 CAT, 09:00 GMT).

In the boys’ category, rising star Mrisho Mhango, who is a subject of interest in Europe, scored in either half to send the Malawians to the competition’s final for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The Ascent Soccer starlet pushed Malawi in front barely two minutes into the game against the run of play when he picked a pass from the half-way line before zig-zagging his way past markers then fired a fierce low shot into the net.

The Young Chipolopolo, who had started the game brightly and were only denied a goal by the Malawi keeper, kept calm and looked more organized as they pushed forward with long balls floated over the defence of the Young Flames.

The Zambians finally found their way into the game when Daka flicked the ball into the net when he connected a free kick which Malawi failed to clear in the 40th minute. The two teams were locked at one-all in the first half before Mhango dispatched a freekick into the roof of the net in the 70th minute for the decisive goal.

Earlier, South Africa pushed aside Angola with a 2-0 victory to book their spot in the final.

Cape Town City’s starlet Emile Witbooi’s 25th minute close-range finish gave South Africa the lead seconds after Angola thought they had escaped an earlier threat posed by a ball whipped across the goal mouth.

Amajita put to bed any doubt of Angola’s comeback when Steven Mendes picked a well-worked pass through the middle and sent a long-range ball dipping ball into the deserted net in the 68th minute. It was a second consecutive game that Mendes, the Kaizer Chiefs starlet, had scored at the tournament.

Women’s Tournament

Zambia thrashed Botswana 5-0 to qualify for the final and date South Africa, who too, saw off Namibia 1-0 in another last-four match, with Linda Mabhuza netting in the 5th minute.

Zambia were in total control as they led 3-0 at the break courtesy of Bwalya Chileshe’s brace scored inside the opening 35 minutes with substitute Ruth Mukoma extending further the lead two minutes to half-time.

The Copper Princesses cushioned the lead further three minutes after restart through Saliya Mwanza to put the game beyond Botswana’s reach.

Ruth Muwowo then added the icing with a goal one minute into added time. The goal put the icing on the cake to complete the comprehensive victory for Charity Nthala’s team.