SOUTH AFRICA AND ZAMBIA RENEW RIVALRY IN COSAFA SENIOR CHALLENGE
Hosts South Africa and Zambia have set up a repeat of last year's final in the Cosafa Senior Challenge, but this year will meet in Wednesday's semifinals in Thulamahashe.
Both countries won through in their respective quarter-final tie but the success story of the weekend belonged to Madagascar, who are through to the final four for the first time.
They will play Mozambique in their semifinal tie, also on Wednesday at Thulamahashe.
The South African side, coached by Serame Letsoaka, turned in a high tempo performance to overcome a physical approach from Namibia in Witbank on Saturday.
A rocketing goal from Rooi Mohamutsa, the new Orlando Pirates signing, handed the host nation an early lead which they held onto for the rest of the game to record a 1-0 win.
Zambia looked far from convincing in their quarter-final tie on Sunday against Zimbabwe but eventually went through in a post-match penalty shootout.
"Sometimes the luck is with you," said their new French-born coach Herve Renard after the 5-4 shootout triumph that followed a goalless draw against their southern neighbours.
South Africa and Zambia were also goalless in last year's final before the home team won on penalties in Bloemfontein to clinch the trophy.
As defending champions, and with a large crowd expected to support them in Thulamahashe, South Africa will be confident of progress to the final for a second successive year.
Both Madagascar and Mozambique have a chance to reach the final for the first time after the Malagasy beat Angola 1-0 on Saturday and Mozambique overcame Botswana 2-0 in Secunda on Sunday.
Their semifinal in Thulamahashe on Wednesday comes less than a month since the two countries met in the World Cup qualifiers, playing out a 1-1 draw in Antananarivo and then seeing Mozambique winning 3-0 in Maputo a week later.
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