COSAFA Women’s Championship semifinal clashes set after group stage concludes

Mozambique overcame Madagascar 2-0 in South Africa on Wednesday but it was not enough to seal a COSAFA Women’s Championship semifinal berth from Group C.

Os Mambas finished on three points, lying second, at par on points with bottom-placed Barea Women and leaders Namibia’s Brave Gladiators.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by COSAFA (@cosafafootball)

COSAFA Women’s Championship semifinal field set

Namibia advanced to the last-four stage courtesy of a superior goal aggregate of +1, joining holders Zambia’s Copper Queens, hosts Banyana Banyana and Zimbabwe’s Mighty Warriors.

Banyana Banyana will now face the Mighty Warriors while the Brave Gladiators date the Copper Queens in the semifinal games scheduled for Friday at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Group C goes down to the wire

In Wednesday’s decisive match, Amelia Banze scored for Mozambique from the penalty spot in the 31^st minute at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Barea defender Nomenjanahary Raharimanampionona had pulled down Cina Manuel of Mozambique in the box.

The CD Matchedje de Maputo FC defender stepped forward, leaving Barea Women goalkeeper Verasantatra Andrianandrasana with no chance.

It was the first goal from the penalty spot at the regional football tournament.

After leading 1-0 at the break, Os Mambas threatened to cushion the lead in the 50^th minute when Mozambique’s Angila Mutula intercepted Madagascar midfielder Nomenjanahary Raharimampionona’s sloppy back-pass meant for her goalkeeper. However, Raharimampionona recovered to sweep the ball away to safety just as it was about to cross the goal-line.

The Barea struggled to clear their lines as they were slow and were caught napping on the ball. They paid dearly again as Mozambique extended the lead while the islanders went into each other’s path while trying to clear a header from Mozambique.

In the end, the ball was deflected into their own penalty box where Manuel picked it up, shrugged off her marker then tucked her effort beyond the reach of goalkeeper Verasantatra Andrianandrasana in the 68^th minute. Despite registering their first victory of the tournament, it was too late for Sergio Munjovo’s girls to sneak through to the semifinals.

How Group C looked like before Mozambique-Namibia’s game

Leading Group C with three points from one match ahead of Wednesday’s match, Madagascar needed a win or a draw to see them through to the semifinal.

On the other hand, bottom-placed Mozambique with 0 points, needed to win by at least two goals to have any hope of overtaking Namibia and Madagascar in this tight three-team group.

A win for Mozambique meant that all three teams in the pool would be level on three points, with Namibia claiming group winner status due to a +1 goal difference. Mozambique finished with a neutral goal difference (2 goals scored and 2 conceded) while Madagascar finished with -1.