COSAFA Cup: Mozambique and Mauritius share spoils

Photo: COSAFA Media

Mozambique and 10-man Mauritius played out a goalless draw in a Group A match of the COSAFA Cup on Saturday. For the first time in the competition, the game did not require Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention in South Africa.

The result saw the Mambas remain on top of Group A with four points, two ahead of the Islanders, giving hope to Zimbabwe and South Africa, who met earlier on Saturday.

Mozambique faced Mauritius at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein while hoping to build on their opening 1-0 Group A win over South Africa.

Mozambique caretaker coach Eduardo Jumisse did not change much with the squad from the previous game, with only Raice dropped for Pedro. 

Mauritius went into the game after an impressive goalless draw against Zimbabwe.

Mauritius coach Guillaume Moullec, who expressed his frustration after a goalless draw against Zimbabwe on June 4, made seven changes to his squad.

Francois, Aristide, Caliste, Mooto, and Christopher were among the players dropped from the starting lineup, with preference given to Steulet, Arthee, Rita, Antoine, and Latounchent.

Mauritius showed their intent from the first whistle with efforts on the Mambas' goal, especially from set pieces.

The Islanders should have had the first say on the match when Arthee sent a powerful free kick into the box from the right, but Rose missed the flight of the ball at the far post in the 25th minute.

It took 35 minutes for Mozambique to come back into the game, with Antonio Sumbane nearly being gifted a goal when Mauritian defender Antoine cleared the ball off the Mambas striker, causing a dangerous deflection that flew over the bar. The half ended goalless.

The Mambas came out in the second half as a changed side, camping in Mauritius’s half with some decisive long balls into the box. One such effort saw Mozambique's Oscar Cherene head the ball over the post when connecting with Sumbane’s corner-kick in the 62nd minute.

Four minutes later, Chamito Alfandega fired a hard and low shot from the edge of the box, but Mauritius goalkeeper Kelvin Jean-Louis parried the effort for a corner kick.

The Mambas should have made use of the corner kick swung in from the left, but defender Osama Pedro thumped his header way off target.

Kelvin Jean-Louis had to be at his best again to keep out Fernando Jose’s ferocious shot after the Mambas attackers sliced through Mauritius’s defence in the 75th minute.

The Islanders finished the game a man down after defender Jean Colin received a red card for a dangerous foul on an opponent one minute into added time. That was the last highlight of the game.

The next assignment for Mauritius is against South Africa on June 10 to determine the semifinalist from the group, while the Mambas take on Zimbabwe on the same day.

The second match of the day sees South Africa entertaining Zimbabwe, desperate to get back to winning ways after their loss to the Mambas.

A meeting between Tanzania and Madagascar will wrap up the day at 6:00 p.m. CAT (4:00 p.m. GMT).