The semifinal line-up at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | Cosafa Qualifier in Matola, Mozambique is complete with Angola to face South Africa and Zimbabwe in a face-off with old foes Zambia on Thursday.
Angola and Zimbabwe were already confirmed as winners of their respective pools before Tuesday’s action, where South Africa took top spot in Group C following a 2-0 win over Comoros.
Lesotho’s 3-2 victory over Malawi left a complex calculation for second place in the pool, but Malawi took the spot by virtue of goals scored.
When three teams level on points the results from matches between those sides are used to place them in order in the table.
Each side had three points and a +0 goal-difference, but Malawi scored four goals to Lesotho’s three and Comoros’ two.
Having seen Malawi place second, the head-to-head record between Comoros and Lesotho was needed to decide third and the islanders took it by virtue of their 1-0 win in their opening pool game.
The calculation for the best runner-up across all the pools sees the results of the teams that finish bottom in Groups A and C discarded to level the playing field with the three-team Group B, where Zambia finished second with three points and a -1 goal-difference.
Botswana were the second placed team in Group A, but with only their two draws against Zimbabwe and Eswatini counting towards the calculation, they had two points and so finish below Zambia.
When only the points from matches involving South Africa, Malawi and Comoros were taken into account in Group C, Malawi came out with three points but a -4 goal-difference, putting them behind Zambia as well.
Goals from Emmanuel Mwanza and David Simukonda were enough to earn defending champions Zambia a 2-1 Group B win over Namibia, who grabbed what proved a consolation through Engilio Goagoseb.
Mwanza scored with a powerful shot after a beautiful pass from Mumba Mwale on 36 minutes before Simukonda netted in the second half. Goagoseb reduced the deficit when his well struck free-kick from 30-yards found the top right corner of the net.
South Africa topped Group C with a full haul of nine points following their 2-0 win over Comoros, given to them by a goal from Mamelodi Sundowns forward Siyabonga Mabena and a late strike by Ofentse Kgosana.
The victory was achieved despite South Africa coach Raymond Mdaka rotating his team by bringing in fresh legs, perhaps with Thursday’s semifinals in mind.
It was not a blemish free match though as they finished the game with 10 men following a second yellow card for Lazola Maku for diving that means he will miss the last-4 encounter. Lesotho took the lead against Malawi when Paseka Maile was brought down in the box and he stepped up to score from the penalty-spot by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Chewane Nthaka scored a second goal from a rebound after Tholang Makuru’s well-placed header hit an upright.
Maile registered his second goal after 57 minutes when he outran his opponent to make it 3-0. At that stage Lesotho were looking good for second place.
But Hermas Masinja pulled one back and when Mwisho Mhango scored a second goal from a penalty with five minutes remaining after Lehlohonolo Leemisa handled the ball in the box, the equation turned again.
The two finalists in Mozambique will qualify for the continental finals that are due to be played next year. – cosafa.com
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