South Africa, Zambia book final date

South Africa will meet Zambia in Saturday’s final of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | Cosafa Qualifier on Saturday after a dramatic day of semifinal action saw both qualify for the continental finals next year.

South Africa edged Angola 1-0 and Zambia needed penalties to see off Zimbabwe after they blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2, but then triumphed in an epic shoot-out.

As much as the pair will be seeking to lift the regional trophy this weekend, qualifying for the continental finals was a major goal too and gives them a shot at being one of four teams from Africa that will compete at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile next year.

Angola goalkeeper Domingo Da Silva was called on to make a double save in the 19th minute to keep the score level in the first semifinal, however Lee Jody Ahshene opened the scoring shortly afterwards to give South Africa the lead.

He turned his defender before firing into the bottom corner of the net. South Africa’s were denied a second goal by the crossbar early in the second half from Shandre Miguel Campbell’s powerful shot.

Angola piled on the pressure in the dying minutes of the game, pushing their opponents to defend deep into their box but it was too little, too late for an equaliser.

In what was a one-sided first half, Zambia’s Mumba Mwale scored early in the game when he fired the ball into the roof of the net following a deflection.

Zambia skipper David Simukonda led by example when he connected with a cross from Emmanuel Mwanza to make the score 2-0 inside 25 minutes.

Zimbabwe were the better team in the second half and their hard work paid off when Prince Ndhlovu, who came off the bench to score with an overhead-kick. Zimbabwe were then awarded a penalty after Simukonda was fouled in the box. Denzel Mapuwa’s penalty was saved but Ndhlovu completed his brace as he equalised from the rebound to make it 2-2. That sent the game into penalties and after both sides had an early miss, Zambia eventually triumphed 6-5 to reach the decider.