COSAFA U-20: Angola and Malawi to the semifinals; Namibia and Botswana girls follow suit

The mens’ teams for Angola and Malawi qualified for the COSAFA U-20 Championship semifinals after winning their respective matches on Tuesday with Botswana and hosts Namibia following suit in the girls’ section.

Angola took the lead in Group A after cruising to a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe with Manuel Bernado and Luis Panda being the scorers at the tournament being held at the Region 5 Games.

In another game for the group, the Young Flames, needing just a draw, gave more than what was asked of them as they defeated Namibia 2-0 to match the feat of 2011 when the Malawians last qualified for the last-four.

First, midfielder Lameck Mithi made the most of Namibia’s goalkeeper’s sloppy clearance to score into the empty net, before Clifford Chisale’s last-gasp goal confirmed the victory.

The Young Flames and Angola wound up the group assignments on seven points apiece from three games each with the former leading the pile on goal difference.

Group A Table

The rest of the semifinalists for the boys category will emerge from Wednesday’s Group B games involving Zambia, Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa.

GIRLS SECTION

There were mixed fortunes for Malawi at the tournament as their girls’ team crashed out after suffering a 6-3 loss to already-eliminated Zimbabwean counterparts. This was a game the young Scorchers needed to win at all costs to make up for an earlier draw and loss in Group A.

However, goals from Zimbabwe’s Alicia Chinyoka (a double), and one each from Ntokozo Mpofu, Privilege Mashanda, Plaxina Bandason and Merian Genti condemned Linda Kasenda’s girls to an early flight back to Lilongwe.

In another match for the group, already qualified Botswana lost 2-1 to Namibia on Tuesday at the Hage Geingob Stadium, thanks to strikes from Ontheedi Tokwane and Renalda Angula in the 37th and 67th minutes respectively. Hope Lesotlo grabbed the consolation for Botswana for her third of the tournament.

Group B Table

The Namibians sealed their place in the semifinal as the pool leaders, one point ahead of Botswana. Zambia stand in the way of Botswana in the semifinals.

Earlier on Sunday, Group B leaders Zambia sealed their semifinal place with a 8-0 whitewash of Angola.

Wednesday Mens’ Group B Fixtures

UNAM Stadium: Zambia vs Botswana (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)

Hage Geingob Stadium: South Africa vs Eswatini (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)

Wednesday Womens’ Fixtures

UNAM Stadium: South Africa vs Angola (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)

Hage Geingob Stadium: Zambia vs Eswatini (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)