Brave Warriors win as Zim end Zambia’s reign 

The Brave Warriors got their first win of the 2024 Cosafa Cup, courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Lesotho yesterday.

This was one day after Zimbabwe’s Warriors ended Zambia’s two-year stranglehold on the Cosafa Cup with a 2-0 victory in Gqeberha, South Africa.

Namibia’s scrappy win, coupled with Angola beating Seychelles 3-2 earlier yesterday puts them joint top of group C, with four points, with Lesotho third and Seychelles bottom.

Defender Ivan Kamberipa put Namibia ahead on 38 minutes, but Lesotho equalised midway through the second half, before hard-running forward Bethuel Muzeu struck the decisive goal late on.

Captain Aprocius Petrus yesterday said they plan to carry their winning moment into their final group match against Seychelles tomorrow.

“Well deserved three points, good fighting spirit for the whole squad. The level just keeps going up, and three more points are expected in the next match,” Petrus said.

Head coach Collin Benjamin said his charges got the kind of test that would make them improve.

“I think it was a tough one. Lesotho threw everything at us. These are the kind of games we need in order to grow.

“Our boys were pushed around, but they prevailed. Getting the three points is very good for morale going forward. We will keep working to get better,” he said.

HOLDERS OUT

Chipolopolo’s defeat to Zimbabwe ended their bid for a third consecutive title, while propelling the returning Zimbabweans to top spot in group B, and on course for the semi-finals with a match to go.

It is only the second time in their Cosafa Cup history that the record seven-time winners lost two matches in a row in the competition.

They have never been beaten in three on the trot.

Michael Tapera scored his second goal in as many games to give Zimbabwe the lead after only eight minutes, before Zambia’s task was made harder when Kiliam Kanguluma received a second yellow card on 33 minutes.

Zimbabwe were able to tighten their grip on the game when they added a second goal via a header from Takunda Benhura just before half-time.

Comoros got their first win of the campaign with a 2-0 success over East African guest nation Kenya, who had themselves been handsome winners over Zambia in their first game.

Kenya were rocked by a red card for Paul Ochuoga as he picked up a second yellow after 33 minutes, which also led to a Comoros penalty.

Affane Djambae made no mistake from the spot for the islanders.

Djambae doubled his side’s lead early in the second half with a neat finish from the edge of the box to make it 2-0, and wrap up the points against the 10 men of Kenya.

Zimbabwe lead group B with six points, followed by Comoros and Kenya with three each, but no team is through the semi-finals yet.

With Kenya to play Zimbabwe in their final game on Tuesday and Comoros up against Zambia, it is conceivable that three teams may finish on six points in the pool.

Only Zambia are out of the running.