Hosts South Africa will face Central African guest nation Cameroon in the final of the 2018 COSAFA Women’s Championship after both sides won their semifinal clashes in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday.
South Africa defeated Uganda 2-0, while Cameroon saw off Zambia 1-0 in a hard-fought clash in the first game of the day as they gained revenge for a group stage loss by the same scoreline to the She-Polopolo.
South Africa and Cameroon will contest the decider this year at the Wolfson Stadium on Saturday with a 12h00 kick-off (10h00 GMT), what is sure to be a titanic battle between two sides who have qualified for the African Women’s Championship in Ghana later in the year.
Zambia and Uganda will face-off Friday’s bronze-medal match (kick-off 15h00; 13h00 GMT) as they seek to gain some reward from what has been an excellent championship for both sides.
Cameroon came through an excellent semifinal in which both sides had chances to score more goals.
But they went into the break goalless and it took until the 77thminute to get the opening goal as Edith Ngo Mbeleck produced a neat finish to give Cameroon the lead.
They were able to hold on to that advantage and seal their final spot, living up to their billing as the third-placed side on the FIFA Women’s World Rankings.
South Africa were also made to work hard for their win but sealed the victory after goals from tournament top-scorer Linda Motlhalo and Jermaine Seoposenwe.
Motlhalo was typically composed with her finish inside seven minutes to settle home nerves, before Refiloe Jane was denied by Uganda goalkeeper Ruth Atoru with an excellent stop.
The game was made safe on 67 minutes when Motlhalo then turned provider as she broke behind the Uganda defence and with just Atoru to beat, unselfishly played in Seoposenwe for the simple score.
Entrance to the Wolfson Stadium on Friday and for Saturday’s final will be FREE to the public.
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
At Wolfson Stadium
Zambia 0 Cameroon 1(Edith Ngo Mbeleck)
South Africa 2(Linda Motlhalo, Jermaine Seoposenwe) Uganda 0
FRIDAY’S FIXTURE
At Wolfson Stadium
Third-Place Play-Off
15h00 local, 13h00 GMT–Zambia vs Uganda
SATURDAY’S FIXTURE
At Wolfson Stadium
Final
12h00 local, 10h00 GMT–South Africa vs Cameroon
FINAL GROUP STANDINGS
GROUP A P W D L GF GA PTS
South Africa 3 3 0 0 9 1 9
Botswana 3 1 1 1 2 1 4
Malawi 3 1 0 2 2 8 3
Madagascar 3 0 1 2 1 4 1
GROUP B P W D L GF GA PTS
Zambia 3 3 0 0 6 0 9
Cameroon 3 2 0 1 14 2 6
Mozambique 3 1 0 2 3 12 3
Lesotho 3 0 0 3 1 10 0
GROUP C P W D L GF GA PTS
Uganda 3 2 1 0 6 4 7
Zimbabwe 3 2 0 1 5 2 6
Namibia 3 1 1 1 4 2 4
Eswatini 3 0 0 3 4 11 0
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 20
Goals scored: 60
Biggest victory:Cameroon 8 Mozambique 1 (Group B, September 13)
Most goals in a game:9 – Cameroon 8 Mozambique 1 (Group B, September 13)
GOALSCORERS
4 goals – Linda Motlhalo (South Africa)
3 – Mpeh Bissong (Cameroon), Khanya Xesi (South Africa)
2 – Barbra Banda (Zambia),Cidalia Cuta (Mozambique), Lina Katuta (Namibia), Edith Ngo Mbeleck (Cameroon), Madeleine Ngono Mani (Cameroon), Raissa Mbappe (Cameroon), Hasifah Nassuna (Uganda), Celiwe Nkambule (Eswatini), Marjory Nyaumwe (Zimbabwe), Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa)
1 –Tracey Akiror (Uganda), Eliane Bodolo (Cameroon), Zainab Kapanda (Malawi), Linda Kasenda (Malawi), Lesego Keleboge (Botswana), Rutendo Makore (Zimbabwe), Litseoana Maloro (Lesotho), Catherine Mbengono (Cameroon), Charlene Meyong (Cameroon), Tenanile Mgcamphalala (Eswatini), Lucia Moçambique (Mozambique), Kgaelebane Mohlakoana (South Africa), Lovisa Mulunga (Namibia), Felistas Muzongondi (Zimbabwe), Mary Mwakapila (Zambia), Lushomo Mweemba (Zambia), Juliet Nalukenge (Uganda), Rachel Nachula (Zambia), Resty Nanziri (Uganda), Abena Ninon (Cameroon), Agnes Nkada (Cameroon), Alupo Norah (Uganda), Susan Nyama (Zimbabwe), Lesego Radiakanyo (Botswana), Sarah Rasoanandrasana (Madagascar), Cebile Shongwe (Eswatini), Kylie van Wyk (Namibia), Nothando Vilakazi (South Africa),Claudy Ychadeu (Cameroon), Misozi Zulu (Zambia).
