SA do the double at CAF African Schools Champs

South Africa were crowned champions in both the Boys and the Girls competitions at the CAF African Schools Football Championship | Cosafa Qualifier in Walvis Bay, Namibia on Sunday, but were pushed hard in both finals.

The Boys beat Zambia 4-2 on penalties after they had played to a 1-1 draw, while the Girls had to come from behind as they defeated Malawi 3-1 in their decider.

It maintains South Africa’s 100% record in the competition, having won both the Boys and the Girls competitions in the previous two editions in 2022 and 2023. The Girls side went on to be crowned African champions in Tanzania in May.

That fact means that Malawi will join South Africa in the Girls competition at the continental finals next year after the latter qualified as holders. But only the South African Boys team advance to the continental phase in their tournament.

They also had to come from behind in their final as Sydney Zulu profited from a goalkeeper error to give Zambia the lead in the first half.

South Africa equalised in the second period through Luthando Mkhize but neither side could find a winner. That meant a penalty shoot-out and while Zambia missed their first two spot-kicks, South Africa scored all four of theirs.

Zambia’s Tenani Simfukwe was named Player of the Tournament, while Malawi’s Okester Kanyenda took the Golden Boot for his four goals scored.

Zambia’s William Zulu won the Golden Glove as best goalkeeper and South Africa took home the Fair Play award.

South Africa also retained their Girls title with a 3-1 victory over Malawi in the final.

 Malawi took an early lead through Rejoice Silungwe, the first goal South Africa had conceded in the competition.

But South Africa hit back almost immediately through competition top scorer Leonay Kock, who ended with a brace in the game. Lethuthando Mthembu scored the other goal for the champions.

Kock won both the Golden Boot for her 11 goals and the Player of the Tournament prize. Her compatriot Mia Heneke won the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper, while Malawi took home the Fair Play award. – cosafa.com