TANZANIA have been crowned champions of the Boys under-17 competition at the AUSC Region 5 Games after a tense 6-5 victory over Angola in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s decider in Gaborone.
Angola were unable to follow up their win at the Cosafa under-17 Championships in Mauritius in July with another gold medal but can be proud of an excellent tournament as they pick up silver.
Tanzania are worthy winners after a superb tournament in which they entertained and showed great skill, winning the mental battle too in the shoot-out to lift the trophy.
Both sides made a fast start to the game with chances at either ends, but it was Tanzania who began to dominate with set-pieces into the Angolan box causing all sorts of danger.
It was the Angolans who broke the deadlock though Gasper Morais as he provided a neat finish five minutes before halftime.
It took Tanzania until 16 minutes from time to draw level and it proved a brilliant strike as Kelvin Pius broke into the box from the wing and crashed the ball home.
Eswatini capped a fine competition with the bronze medal after they defeated Zambia 1-0 in the third-place play-off.
The only goal of the game came via the penalty spot as captain Bandile Shabangu converted three minutes into the second half.
It was a deserved win for Eswatini, who were the only side to come through the group stages with a 100 percent record, but lost 1-0 to Angola in the semifinals. That remains the only goal they conceded in five games in Botswana.
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