COSAFA side Botswana have been ousted from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after a 2-1 loss to Mali on Wednesday night.

The Zebras had the slimmest of chances of reaching the latter stages, needing to win by nine goals and hope Ghana defeat Guinea in the other game. Neither of those happened, though coach Stanley Tshosane will be pleased with the improved performance of the side after their 6-1 loss to Guinea in the previous game. Mogakolodi Ngele had put the Zebras into the lead, but goals from Garra Dembele and Seydou Keita handed the Maliens the advantage.

So Botswana end their maiden Nations Cup showing without a win, but they will hope to build on strong performances against Ghana and Mali as they seek to return in South Africa in 2013.

COSAFA side Zambia sealed their place in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over co-hosts Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

Chipolopolo finish top of their Group A and will likely play either regional rivals Angola or Sudan in the next round.

Chris Katongo scored for Zambia in a second successive game at the finals to seal the win. More importantly it means they now avoid a likely match-up with hot favorite Cote d’Ivoire in the weekend’s quarter-finals.

Katongo, who also scored in the 2-2 draw with Libya on Wednesday, broke the deadlock after 66 minutes in a game Chipolopolo largely dominated.

Meanwhile, Angola take on Cote d’Ivoire on Monday needing a point to seal their place in the quarterfinals.

They could still make it in defeat, if Sudan fail to take full points off Burkina Faso in their pool stage match.

Even if Sudan do win, they need to make up a two-goal inferior goal-difference on the Angolans.

COSAFA side Angola twice gave away the lead as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Sudan in their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Group C encounter at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo on Thursday.

Palancas Negras could have all but sealed their qualification for the quarterfinals with a win, but instead could have to get something from their final pool game against Cote d’Ivoire on Monday.

Former Manchester United striker Manucho was the hero for Angola, netting twice, while Sudan’s goals both came from Al-Hilal forward Mohamed Ahmed Bashir.

Earlier, Zambia were also held to a 2-2 draw by Libya in a sodden 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Group A clash in Bata. It was touch and go whether the match would be played at all with torrential rain leaving parts of the pitch under water. Credit to the two teams then that they did manage to put on an entertaining spectacle and produce a result that takes Zambia to the top of the pool, for a few hours at least.

Libya twice led after a brace of goals from Ahmed Sa’ad, but this Zambian side are made of stern stuff and twice they hit back as Emmanuel Mayuka and Chris Katongo got their goals.

And on Friday, Botswana will continue their Group D campaign when they take on Guinea in Franceville. The Zebras were unlucky to lose their opening match 1-0 against Ghana, one of the pre-tournament favourites.

COSAFA side Botswana fought bravely but went down 1-0 to Ghana in their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Group D clash on Tuesday.

The Zebras were making their debut in the continental showpiece tournament and were unlucky not to get something out of the game.

Ghana skipper John Mensah scored the only goal on the game in the first half, but was then sent-off 25 minutes from time to leave the Black Stars to play out the remainder of the game with 10 men.

Try as they might, Botswana could not find an equalizer and they now look forward to their next match against Guinea on Saturday. "I'm not happy with the result, but with the performance especially in the second half," said coach Stanley Tshosane. “We were cautious at the beginning because we have never played Ghana before at this level and so we preferred to study how they play."

Meanwhile, Zambia are back in action on Wednesday after their opening round win over Senegal. This time they face Libya, where a win could secure a quarterfinal place if the Senegalese do not get full points from Equatorial Guinea later in the day.

It was a magnificent weekend for the COSAFA entries at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with both Zambia and Angola winning their opening matches.

Zambia defeated Senegal 2-1 in easily the most impressive display of the tournament so far, with first-half goals from Emmanuel Mayuka and Rainford Kalaba giving them a 2-0 lead.

Senegal pulled a goal back in the second period through Dame N’Doye, but Chipolopolo held on for a vital three points in Group A.

Angola defeated Burkina Faso by the same scoreline on Sunday in another impressive display.

They took the lead through Mateus, only for the Burkinabe to equalise via Alain Traore, who curled in a wonderful free-kick. But Angola were not to be denied and Manucho fired in a brilliant winner in the second half to get their campaign off to the perfect start.

COSAFA’s third entrant, Botswana, get their Group D campaign underway with a meeting against the Black Stars of Ghana on Tuesday.

COSAFA nation Lesotho have lost the first leg of their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations first round qualifier 1-0 in São Tomé and Príncipe. The game on Sunday was won by a lone penalty-kick in the opening half for the hosts, who will now travel to Lesotho for the second leg on January 22. The winner of this tie will advance to the second round where they will play Sierra Leone over two legs in a bid to reach the next stage and ultimately the finals in South Africa. Lesotho will still be favourites to advance to the next stage after they beat Burundi in the qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in November, a massive result for the Mountain Kingdom. Sao Tome e Principe were hammered 6-1 on aggregate by Congo in the World Cup qualifiers, but did get a very credible 1-1 draw in Brazzaville. There will be 16 nations participating at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals, with South Africa automatically gaining entry as hosts. For the first time since 1990, all the qualifying matches will be played on a knockout basis without any group action because of the short time between the 2012 finals and 2013 competition. The 14 winners of the second round ties to be played in February and June will be joined by 16 finalists from the 2012 African Nations Cup finals – Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Gabon, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia and Zambia. They will go into a draw for a third, and last, round of 15 matches and the winners of those ties, to be played over two legs home and away, will qualify for the finals in South Africa. The seven countries who have not entered the 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers are the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Eritrea, Mauritania, Mauritius, Swaziland and Somalia.

COSAFA country Angola completed their programme of pre-African Nations Cup friendlies with a morale-boosting goalless draw away against Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday.

Angola drew at home with Cameroon and Namibia and beat Zambia in December friendlies to end their sequence of matches unbeaten.

It was Nigeria’s first match under coach Stephen Keshi, forced to pick a side devoid of any of the country’s multitude of foreign-based players. The game was also played behind closed doors because of security fears around recent protests in the capital over fuel subsidies

Angola play in Group B at the Nations Cup against Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast and Sudan. The tournament starts next weekend.

Nigeria were among the heavyweight casualties who failed to qualify for the 2012 finals.

Zambia coach Herve Renard has named his final 23-man selection for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to be played in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Chipolopolo will compete in Group A of the 16-team tournament, along with co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal, and will be looking to repeat at least their quarterfinal showing at the 2010 event in Angola. There was good news for Renard in the return to fitness of key striker James Chamanga, who has been included, but there is no place defender Thomas Nyirenda, midfielder Justine Zulu and striker Given Singuluma, who were dropped from the 26-man preliminary squad that has camped in South Africa.

ZAMBIA SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (unattached), Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos).

Defenders: Kampamba Chintu (Bidvest Wits, South Africa), Hichani Himonde, Francis Kasonde (both TP Mazembe Englebert, DR Congo), Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United), Joseph Musonda (Lamontville Golden Arrows, South Africa), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United, South Africa), Stopilla Sunzu (TP Mazembe Englebert, DR Congo).

Midfielders: Isaac Chansa (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Noah Chivuta (Free State Stars, South Africa), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe Englebert, DR Congo), Chris Katongo (Henan Construction, China), Felix Katongo (unattached), Chisamba Lungu (Ural Povolzhye, Russia), Clifford Mulenga (Bloemfontein Celtic, South Africa), Nathan Sinkala (Green Buffaloes).

Forwards: James Chamanga (Dalian Shidem China), Evans Kangwa (Nkana FC), Emmanuel Mayuka (Young Boys Berne, Switzerland), Jonas Sakuwaha (Al Merreikh, Sudan), Collins Mbesuma (Lamontville Golden Arrows, South Africa).

Botswana have named their final 23-man selection for the 2012 Acfrica Cup of Nations to be held in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon later this month.

The Zebras will be appearing in their first-ever continental showpiece tournament and open their Group D campaign with a meeting against the Black Stars of Ghana on January 24.

Thereafter they take on Guinea on January 28 and Mali on February 1, but which time they will have hoped to have sealed a quarterfinal berth.

Coach Stanley Tshosane had named a preliminary squad of 26 some weeks ago and has had the player in camp since the middle of December.

BDF XI striker Mokgathi Mokgathi, and Township Rollers' midfielders Abednico Powell and Sekhana Koko are the unlucky three to miss out on selection for the finals.

BOTSWANA SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Modiri Marumo (Bay United/SA), Noah Maposa (Gaborone United), Kabelo Dambe (Township Rollers).

Defenders: Mompati Thuma (BDF XI), Mosimanegape Ramohibidu (BMC), Tshepo Motlhabankwe (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Mmusa Ohilwe (Gaborone United), Monametsi Kelebale (Nico United), Ndiyapo Letsholathebe (Police XI).

Midfielders: Patrick Motsepe (BDF XI), Dipsy Selolwane (SuperSport United/SA), Othusitse Pilane (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Pontsho Moloi (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Joel Mogorosi (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Mogogi Gabonamong (SuperSport/SA), Boitumelo Mafoko (Santos/SA), Ofentse Nato (Gaborone United), Phenyo Mongala (Bloemfontein Celtic/SA).

Forwards: Moemedi Moatlhaping (Bay United/SA), Lemponye Tshireletso (BDF XI), Onalethata Tshekiso (Township Rollers), Mogakolodi Ngele (Township Rollers), Jerome Ramatlhakwana (unattached)

Angola coach Lito Vidigal has named a preliminary squad of 26 for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, calling up a number of new faces. Vidigal has named newcomers Jaime, Bastos and Manucho Barros in his squad for the competition, which sees the Angolans in Group B along with Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and Sudan. Jaime, who plays for Progresso Luanda club, and Bastos (Petro Atletico) are both central defenders, while Manucho Barros from InterClube is a striker.

The coach will cut three teams from the roster ahead of the tournament, which gets under way on January 21, suggesting that the players who ply their trade outside of Angola are most at risk. Brazil-based Geraldo has not been included in the squad, with Vidigal suggesting that his failure to honour previous call-ups had counted against him. "The most important is to speak of those summoned, but Geraldo is an athlete with quality and has much to do for national team if he so wished.

I summoned him several times but he failed to turn up without justification,” the coach said. Meanwhile, Angola will play Nigeria in Lagos in a friendly international on January 12.

The Angola squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Carlos (unattached), Wilson (Primeiro de Agosto), Hugo (Kubuscorp),

Defenders: Kali (Primeiro de Agosto), Marco Airosa (AEL Limassol, Cyprus), Amaro (Primeiro de Agosto), Zuela (Atromitos, Greece), Dani Massunguna (Primeiro de Agosto), Mingo Bille (Primeiro de Agosto), Bastos (Petro Atletico), Jaime (Progresso Luanda)

Midfielders: Gilberto (Lierse, Belgium), André Makanga (Al-Jahra, Kuwait), Miguel (Petro Atletico), Dedé (AEL Limassol, Cyprus), Mabiná (Petro Atletico), Chara (Petro Atletico), Osório (Caala)

Forwards: Love Cabungula (Petro Atletico), Flávio (Lierse, Belgium), Manucho Gonçalves (Real Valladolid, Spain), Mateus Galiano (Nacional, Portugal), Djalma (FC Porto, Portugal), Vunguidica (Preußen Münster, Germany), Manucho Barros (InterClube), Nando Rafael (Augsburg)

Swaziland have withdrawn from the 2013 African Nations Cup, just a week before the preliminaries are due to get underway, the country’s football association has confirmed.

Swaziland were due to meet fellow Cosafa members Seychelles in a two-legged first round tie over the next fortnight but have pulled out because of financial constraints, officials said. The qualifying competition for next year’s Nations Cup starts less than two weeks before the 2012 finals, which are being played in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon from Jan. 21-Feb. 14.

From next year, the African championships, held every two years, reverts from every even year to every odd year to avoid future clashes with World Cup years. The 2013 finals have been awarded to South Africa, 2015 to Morocco and 2017 to Libya. The qualifiers for the 2013 tournament will played on a knockout basis over three rounds between January and October. With the Swaziland-Seychelles tie now called off, the only first round game is that between Lesotho and Sao Tome e Principe.

They meet in the first leg in Sao Tome on Jan. 8 and play the return tie in Maseru on Jan. 15. Seychelles advance to the second round to meet the Democratic Republic of Congo over two legs in March.

Zambia have given up hope Dutch-based striker Jacob Mulenga will recover in time from injury and left him out of their preliminary squad named for next month’s African Nations Cup finals. Mulenga suffered a knee injury in action for FC Utrecht in October but Zambia were hoping he would return after surgery to play for the country at the tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, which starts on Jan. 21.

But coach Herve Renard has confirmed Mulenga’s recovery will take longer than expected and that he misses the Nations Cup for a second successive time.

Sudanese based striker Jonas Sakuwaha is recalled to the squad, which will be cut from 28 to 23 on Jan. 10, officials said.

Zambia began preparations in Johannesburg on Wednesday and play one warm-up international against South Africa in Pretoria on Jan. 11.

At the Nations Cup, Zambia compete in Group A along with co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal.

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (unattached), Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos)

Defenders: Kampamba Chintu (Bidvest Wits, South Africa), Hichani Himonde, Francis Kasonde (both TP Mazembe Englebert, DR Congo), Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United), Joseph Musonda (Lamontville Golden Arrows, South Africa), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United, South Africa), Thomas Nyirenda (Konkola Blades), Stopilla Sunzu (TP Mazembe Englebert, DR Congo)

Midfielders: Isaac Chansa (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Noah Chivuta (Free State Stars, South Africa), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe Englebert, DR Congo), Chris Katongo (Henan Construction, China), Felix Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Chisamba Lungu (Ural Povolzhye, Russia), Clifford Mulenga (Bloemfontein Celtic, South Africa), William Njobvu (Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Israel), Nathan Sinkala (Green Buffaloes), Justine Zulu (Ironi Rishon LeZion, Israel)

Forwards: James Chamanga (Dalian Shide, China), Evans Kangwa (Nkana FC), Rodger Kola (Ashdod, Israel), Emmanuel Mayuka (Young Boys Berne, Switzerland), Jonas Sakuwaha (Al Merreikh, Sudan), Given Singuluma (TP Mazembe Englebert, DR Congo), Collins Mbesuma (Lamontville Golden Arrows, South Africa)

Botswana and Angola were involved in warm-up matches for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations over the last week.

Botswana defeated fellow COSAFA side Lesotho 3-0 with Jerome Ramatlhakwane (two) and Pontsho Moloi on the scoresheet for the Zebras.

Angola were held to a 0-0 draw by Namibia in their friendly game played in Lubango.

Palancas Negras have, meanwhile, cancelled a planned training camp in Brazil ahead of the Nations Cup tournament and will remain in the northern Cabinda Province, where the climate is similar to that of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the city in which Angola will play their group matches.

Angola are up against Sudan, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire in the first round, while Botswana face Ghana, Mali and Guinea.

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has announced a 30-man squad to play three international friendly matches between January 5 and 15. There are six new faces in the squad – Rudiger Gilbert and Mzikayise Mashaba, both of Free State Stars; Patrick Phungwayo and Ryan Chapman, both from Bidvest Wits; Themba Zwane of Mamelodi Sundowns and May Mahlangu, who plays in Sweden. Mahlangu is one of five overseas-based players in the squad.

The others are Siboniso Gaxa, Anele Ngcongca, Daylon Claasen who all play in Belgium, as well as Turkey-based Bradley Grobler. Daine Klate of Orlando Pirates makes a return after a long absence, as does Nazeer Allie of Ajax Cape Town. Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was not considered because he is still recovering from injury. "I have invited some players so I can have a closer look at them.

I also want to reward those who did well this year,” Mosimane says. “For us this is the start of preparations for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament which we will host. This is a training camp for us where we will be trying various combinations. "Unfortunately we won't have some of the overseas-based players but again it's a blessing in disguise in that we will be able to see more players. I am positive the three upcoming matches will help in that regard." First up is Equatorial Guinea, and the match will take place in the capital Malabo on Thursday, January 5 to mark the opening of one of the match venues for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The second clash is against Zambia on Wednesday, January 11 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Tshwane. Kick-off is at 20h00.

In the third friendly international South Africa will lock horns with Ghana on Sunday, January 15 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng, just outside Rustenburg.

The match will kickoff at 15h15.

The Bafana Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers: Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Right-backs: Siboniso Gaxa (Lierse SK, Belgium), Rudiger Gilbert (Free State Stars), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium)
Centre-backs: Nazeer Allie (Ajax Cape Town), Musa Bilankulu (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Mulomowandau Mathoho (Bloemfontein Celtic), Siyabonga Sangweni (Orlando Pirates)
Left-backs: Punch Masenamela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Patrick Phungwayo (Bidvest Wits)

Central midfielders: Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa (both Orlando Pirates), Thanduyise Khuboni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), George Maluleka, Granwald Scott (both Ajax Cape Town)
Attacking midfielders: Daylon Claasen (Lierse SK, Belgium), Daine Klate (Orlando Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala (both Kaizer Chiefs), May Mahlangu (Helsingborgs IF, Sweden), Mzikayise Mashaba (Free State Stars), Teko Modise, Themba Zwane (both Mamelodi Sundowns)
Strikers: Ryan Chapman (Bidvest Wits), Bradley Grobler (Goztepe SK, Turkey), Lehlohonolo Majoro (Kaizer Chiefs), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nontshinga (Jomo Cosmos)

South Africa remain the top-ranked COSAFA country in the latest FIFA World Rankings released on Wednesday.

Bafana Bafana move up one place to number 52 in the world and eighth on the African continent.

They are ahead of 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Zambia (79th in the world, 17th in Africa) and Angola (83rd and 19th).

Malawi (94th and 21st) are in fourth, while Botswana (95th and 22nd) continue their slide down the rankings from their 2011 high of 54th on the global list in January.

COSAFA COUNTRY RANKINGS Country World Africa

Angola defeated Zambia 1-0 in an international friendly played at the Estádio Sagrada Esperança in Dundo on Sunday.

The match between the COSAFA nations was used as a warm-up by both for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The only goal of the game was scored by Angolan forward Love just before the hour-mark as he headed home a corner. Angola now look forward to another friendly international against neighbours Namibia on Thursday, while Zambia take on South Africa on January 11.

Zambia have been drawn in Group A at the 2012 Nations Cup along with co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Senegal and Libya, while Angola are up against Sudan, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire.

Angola and Cameroon have played to a 1-1 draw in their friendly international match played in Cabinda on Wednesday.

Love Cabungula put 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finalists Angola, but Joseph Momasso equalised for the visitors to secure a draw.

The Angolans were using the match as preparation for their Nations Cup campaign, where they have been drawn in Group B along with Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan and Burkina Faso. They start their campaign against the Burkinabe on January 22.

They will now go on to play a friendly against fellow finalists Zambia on December 18, before a meeting with neighbours Namibia on December 22.

Angola will be busy over the next week or so as they play three friendly matches in preparation for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

The Palancas Negras face Cameroon on Wednesday evening in Cabinda, with the Indomitable Lions in the unusual situation of having not qualified for the continental showpiece.

Angola will then host fellow qualifiers Zambia in Luanda on Sunday, before they meet another COSAFA nation, neighbours Namibia, in Lubango next Thursday.

Angola have been drawn in Group B at the Nations Cup along with Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan and Burkina Faso. They start their campaign against the Burkinabe on January 22.

COSAFA president Suketu Patel will remain in office for the next five years after he was elected unopposed at the organisation’s 2011 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday.

SAFA vice-president Danny Jordaan did initially decide to stand against Patel, but withdrew his candidacy before voting commenced.

It means Patel, also a CAF vice-president, will be able to continue his work towards developing the sport in the region and reviving the COSAFA Senior Challenge competition that has not been played since 2009.

Meanwhile, COSAFA vice-president Salemane Phafane from Lesotho stood unopposed for re-election to his role.

David Fani (Botswana), Walter Nyamilandu Manda (Malawi), John Muinjo (Namibia), Timothy Shongwe (Swaziland) and Faizel Sidaet (Mozambique) were elected to the positions on the COSAFA executive.

Fani is the only new recruit, having taken over from Zimbabawe’s Wellington Nyatanga.

Japan Actuel’s FC have won the Malagasy championship for the first time and will play in the African Champions League next year.

The team from Manjakaray, coached by Abdou Bin Amidou, won all three games in the mini-championship at the end of the season, competing their triumph with a 2-0 win over ASJF Capricorne.

Freddy Solofonirina scored the second half goals to make sure of the title at Antananarivo’s Mahamasina Municipal Stadium.

Academie Ny Antsike and CNaPS Sports were the other two teams that played in the tournament over the last week.

CNaPS Sports were cup winners one week ago but are now refusing to play the Super Cup match against the new champions next week because of sponsorship dispute with the Malagasy Football Federation.

Botswana are to prepare for the African Nations Cup finals with a training camp in Cameroon from January 10-20, reports said.

The team will be based in Douala, where they will have experience of conditions similar to those they will encounter in Gabon, where they will play their games and which borders onto Cameroon. Botswana will depart after a friendly match against Zimbabwe in Gaborone, which has been set for January 7.

Botswana open their Nations Cup campaign on January 24 against Ghana in Franceville. They play Guinea at the same venue on January 28 and conclude in Libreville against Mali on February 1.

Angola have fixed three internationals before the end of the year as they begin preparations for the upcoming African Nations Cup finals. Palancas Negras will meet neighbours the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and Zambia before Christmas.

The preliminary squad, which coach Lito Vidigal is expected to name on Wednesday, will report for a 20-day camp on December 1. They play on December 14 against the Congolese in Cabinda, where the majority of the camp is being hosted at the Chiazi Stadium.

They then take on Zambia in Dundo on December 18 and Namibia in Lubango on December 22. The Angolan federation is still to finalise plans for preparations in the fortnight leading up to the start of the 2012 Nations Cup, where Palancas Negras take on Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan.

CNaPS Sports won the Coupe de Madagascar at the weekend and in so doing earned themselves a berth in next year’s African Confederation Cup.

The club from Itasy, who were league champions on the Indian Ocean Island last year, edged past Tana Formation on post match penalties. The game ended 1-1 after extra time tie before CnaPS Sports won 5-4 on post match kicks. Tana Formation had also need a penalty to score during the match, taking a 38th minute lead through Lanto.

The equaliser came in the 60th minute through CNaPS midfield Damien Mahavony. On Wednesday, CNaPS begin the Champions League in Madagascar, which will determine the league champion.

Dynamos were crowned Zimbabwe Premier League champions on Sunday after they beat already relegated Kiglon 2-0.

The result means Dynamos claim the championship on goal-difference from FC Platinum, who also won their final game of the campaign, defeating another relegated side, Shooting Stars, 3-1. Dynamos finished with 58 points from their 30 games and a goal-difference of +27, while FC Platinum had the same number of points, but a goal-difference of only +23. FC Platinum were left to rue their 1-0 loss to Dynamos in their penultimate match of the season on November 13 after having led for much of the campaign.

It is a 13th League title for Dynamos, the last of which came in the 2007 season, after having finished as runners-up as well between 2008 and 2010.

Namibia sealed their place in the group stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Djibouti on Tuesday. The result completed an 8-0 aggregate win after the Brave Warriors triumphed by the same scoreline in Djibouti last Friday and sees the Namibians placed in qualification Group F along with Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya.

The home side were ahead on 17 minutes when Heinrich Isaaks scored to follow up his goal in the first leg, before Lazarus Kaimbi added a second as the Namibians took complete control of the tie. It was 3-0 on the hour-mark as Kaimbi got his second, before youngster Sydney Urikhob put the icing on the cake with a late fourth.

Mozambique have eased into the group stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a 4-1 victory over fellow COSAFA side Comoros on Tuesday night. The Mambas held a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg on Friday, but were dominant in the return to complete a 5-1 aggregate win. It took until midway through the first half for them to open the scoring though as Mamelodi Sundowns winger Elias Pelembe netted to settle the home nerves.

It was 2-0 just before halftime when Jeremias Sitoe scored, and the game was as good as over as a contest as midfielder Whiskey added a third. Comoros came back into the game briefly when Mohamed Youssouf made the score 3-1, but Clesio Baque put to rest any thoughts of a comeback when he netted a fourth for the home side.

Mozambique will now go into Group G of the qualifiers along with Egypt, Guinea and Zimbabwe.

Brothers Kalu and Ike Uche scored on either side of half-time to hand Nigeria a flattering 2-0 win over Zambia in their friendly international in Kaduna on Tuesday. Kalu Uche opened the scoring just nine minutes after a deflected shot off the wall as Zambia’s defence blocked a Taye Taiwo free kick Ike Uche came on as an early substitute for injured striker Fegor Ogude after 27 minutes but took until the last minute to score his goal with a shot from outside the penalty area.

In between, Zambia dominated the encounter but failed to set up any real scoring chances. It was the first match back in charge of Zambia for Frenchman Herve Renard, appointed to the coaching post after the country’s qualification to the 2012 African Nations Cup finals. Nigeria were playing their second game under new coach Stephen Keshi, whose debut on Saturday was a disappointing 0-0 home draw with minnows Botswana in Benin City. Nigeria did not qualify for next year’s Nations Cup.

Kenya defeated Seychelles in the World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday, adding four goals in the second leg in Nairobi to the three they scored in Friday’s first leg. The Harambee Stars advance to the next phase with a 7-0 aggregate triumph and will now face Malawi, Nigeria and the winner of the tie between Namibia and Djibouti in the group phase starting in June.

With a handy 3-0 advantage from the first leg in the Seychelles, Kenya were expected to field a second string outfit but opted to keep several key players in place for the return at the Nyayo National Stadium. Brian Mandela broke through the Pirates defence after 20 minutes and Dennis Oliech followed up with a second goal just before the interval.

Straight after the break Titua Malama made it 3-0 to the Kenyans who then added a fourth from Victor Wanyama in the 76th minute. It was a convincing return to the helm for coach Francis Kimanzi in his second spell in charge of the national side.

Two late goals were not enough to save Madagascar from elimination from the 2014 World Cup qualifiers as they went out at the hands of Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday.

Madagascar won Tuesday’s second leg 2-1 but lost 2-0 away in the first leg on Friday where the home side converted two penalties. The Malagasy put themselves in further bother when they conceded a first half goal to Donvalla Elongue, who opened the scoring in the 26th minute to put Equatorial Guinea 3-0 ahead on aggregate. It meant the Malagasy needed to score four time to go through but could only manage two in the last 20 minutes.

Yvan Rakotonomenjanahary got the home side’s first goal at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in the 70th minute and there was the dignity of home victory secured when Ferdinand Ramanamahefa scored in stoppage time at the end of the game. But it is the co-hosts of the 2012 African Nations Cup finals who advance to the group phase to play the Cape Verde Islands, Sierra Leone and Tunisia.

Lesotho have caused a surprise after they won through to the group stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the expense of the more fancied Burundi. The tiny Southern African nation went into Tuesday’s away tie 1-0 up from the first leg on Friday, and despite a 2-1 loss in Bujumbura, advance on the away goals rule.

Bokang Mothoana gave Lesotho the lead midway through the first half of the match on Tuesday, which left the Burundians needing to score three times in order to advance. Almost immediately though, Burundi pulled a goal back through Cedric Amissi and laid siege to the Lesotho goal. That was the way it stayed until the 88th minute when the home side were awarded a penalty, which was duly converted by Yamin Ndikumana.

Try as they might though, they could not force a third goal and Lesotho were left to celebrate an excellent victory. Lesotho will now go into Group D in the next stage of the qualifiers along with Ghana, Zambia and Sudan.

African Nations Cup finals co-hosts Equatorial Guinea squeezed out an 2-0 win over visiting Madagascar in their World Cup first round, first leg qualifier in Malabo on Friday. Both goals came from the penalty spot, the second right on the stroke on the full time.

The Nzalang Nacional, who play in the Nations Cup opener in January, showed little evidence that will be a force to be reckoned with at the tournament they are co-hosting with Gabon. But they will be pleased with a two goal advantage to take to the second leg on Tuesday, Juvenal Edjogo scored the game’s first goal by converting a penalty midway through the first half at the newly built stadium in the capital, which will be one of the four venues for the Nations Cup. The 23rd minute goal from the 32-year-old Spanish-born striker was followed by a second spot kick in the 90th minute.

It was the first game since coach Henri Michel’s brief walk out in a row over the use of foreign versus home-based players in his team. Goal scorer Edjogo has been critical in the past of the use of Equatorial Guinea of mercenary players from other countries to reinforce their team. Malagasy coach Franck Rajaonarisambia will now have his work cut out if his side are to overcome the deficit in the return match at the Stade Municipal Mahamasina.

The winner of the tie advances to Group B along the Cape Verde Islands, Sierra Leone and Tunisia.

Kenya left it late but two goals in the last quarter ensured a comfortable 3-0 win away over the Seychelles to ensure their probable progress to the group phase of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

It took until just four minutes before half-time for Kenya to open the scoring through defender Pascal Ochieng. Substitute Kevin Kimani came off the bench to make it 2-0 just four minutes after he had come for Ulinzi Stars striker Stephen Waruru in the 71st minute.

Captain Denis Oliech ensured a handsome lead with the third goal in the 81st minute. Kenya now host the Pirates in Nairobi on Tuesday in the second leg.

The Seychelles had been hoping to capitalise on the confidence that their recent win in the Indian Ocean Island games had delivered but did not prove the case at the Stade Linite in Roche Caiman.

A penalty from wing back Miro ensured a new-look Mozambique a winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign as they beat fellow COSAFA members Comoros Islands 1-0 away on Friday.

Miro put away a 56th minute penalty at Mitsamiouli to ensure a lead going into the second leg in Maputo on Tuesday. It was the second meeting in a month between the two countries, who also shared the same 2012 African Nations Cup qualifying group.

Mozambique won both those matches against the Coelacanthes but their team for Friday’s game at the Stade Said Mohamed Cheikh was much changed and under a new coach, the German Gerd Engels. Comoros gave a debut for Mayotte-born Ben Hamidi Ybnou Charaf, a youth footballer at Perpignan in France, but took him off on the hour mark.

Rudolph Bester got the first goal of Africa’s 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and then added a second as Namibia easily beat Djibouti 4-0 away on Friday in their first round, first leg tie.

Bester, based with South African league champions Orlando Pirates, took just 13 minutes to get the first goal of the game and the first by any of the 52 African entrants in the preliminaries Namibia added three goals after the break with Lazarus Kaimbi, Heinrich Isaacks and Bester again scoring at the Stade El Hadj Hassan Gouled. For Thailand-based Kaimbi it marked a successful return to the side after a two year break.

It was also the first win for new coach Bernard Kaanjuka, whose debut in charge was a home drew with Lesotho last week as the Brave Warriors finalised their preparations for the World Cup campaign.

Angola hammered Portuguese club side Sporting Lisbon 4-0 in a friendly match to mark the country’s 36th anniversary of independence at Luanda’s November 11 Stadium on Thursday. The match kicked off the preparations for the Palancas Negras ahead of their appearance at the upcoming African Nations Cup finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Veteran striker Flavio scored after 13 minutes to put Angola ahead and Miguel doubled the score five minutes before half-time.

Two more goals were added in the last quarter-hour from Osorio and Dede, who both came on as second half substitutes.

Angola have been drawn in Group B at the Nations Cup along with Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and Sudan.

Zimbabwe have dropped captain Method Mwanjali from their squad for next Tuesday’s international against South Africa but have still called up 14 foreign-based players to their 20-man squad.

The squad for the match in Harare is made up of 11 players from South Africa’s premier league and three from European clubs plus six home-based footballers. Mwanjali's axing comes after he was blamed for errors which cost Zimbabwe in the 2-1 away defeat by the Cape Verde Islands in the African Nations Cup qualifiers last month.

Midfielder Ramson Zhuwawo and left back Zhaimu Jambo are recalled to the squad.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Dynamos), Tapuwa Kapini (AmaZulu, South Africa)

Defenders: Zhaimu Jambo (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Tapiwa Khumbuyani (CAPS United), Gilbert Mapemba (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Vusa Nyoni (Germinal Beerschot, Belgium), Thomas Sweswe (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Daniel Veremu (Platinum FC), Lincoln Zvasiya (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)

Midfielders: Khama Billiat (Ajax Cape Town, South Africa), Archieford Gutu (Dynamos), Ovidy Karuru (US Boulogne-sur-Mer, France), Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Denver Mukamba (Dynamos), Tinashe Nengomasha (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Tafadzwa Rusike (Ajax Cape Town, South Africa) Ramson Zhuwawo (AmaZulu, South Africa)

Strikers: Cuthbert Malajila (Dynamos), Nyasha Mushekwi (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Knowledge Musona (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany).

Liga Muculmana successfully defended their league title in Mozambique in spectacular fashion with an 8-2 thumping of bottom-placed Sporting Beira. The victory took the club to 58 points and out of the reach of second placed Maxaquene, who also won in emphatic style by beating Chingale 5-0.

Relegation is confirmed for Atletico Muculmano and Sporting but former champions Matchedje can still secure their status with a win next week. Muculmana made a strong statement as they celebrated the MocamBola title again but their win was made easier when Sporting’s midfielder Caesar got sent off early. Telinho and Mauricio got two goals each and central defenders Aguiar and Dario Khan also made sure they got in on the act.

Sporting’s goals came just half-time from a Henriques penalty and Clemente’s last minute counter-attack The demise of Matchedje has been dominating the sports pages in Maputo as the army club await their fate on the final weekend of the season. They are three points behind Incomati and finish their season with a tough game against Costa Do Sol, albeit at home. Incomati are away at Vilankulo in their final fixture.

The South African Under-20 side will assemble for a 10-day training camp from November 4-13 as they prepare for the 2011 Metropolitan COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships to be held in Botswana from December 1-10. The training camp will be held at the High Performance Centre situated at the University of Potchefstroom in the North West province. The ‘Amajita’ squad will be guided by coach Solly Luvhengo as they as they prepare for regional championships.

Luvhengo has called up 40 players into camp, which he will use to select the squad that will represent South Africa at the Championships. The first three days of camp will be used as trials, because only 22 players are needed for the event, and the final cut will be made on Sunday, November 6. The coach says he has worked with the bulk of the players in camp, some in the Under-17 national team, while others were part of the Under-12 national team that went to the World Cup in France in 2003. “The Under-20 squad is going into one of the biggest development tournaments in Southern Africa. This is where the team can prove its worth being seeing that we have been grouped with two-time reigning championships, Zambia. “My only concern at the moment is that some players may not be available as they will be writing exams, but that is also good in a way, in that education comes first and I am happy these boys are aware. So we will make the most with what we get,” said Luvhengo. Other than Zambia, South Africa has been drawn in Group C along with Mauritius and East African guests Tanzania.

The other competing nations at the tournament are hosts Botswana, Angola, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. “We don’t want to undermine any of the opponents we have been grouped with, but I believe we will progress beyond the group stages and fight towards the finals of the tournament. We hope to finalise a friendly match ahead of the tournament so as to get the feel of what to expect in Botswana,” added Luvhengo.

St Michel United have retained the league title in the Seychelles, concluding their campaign with a 4-2 win over Anse Reunion.

Victory came despite the squad attending the funeral of the mother of team member Francis Nourrice in the morning before the game and then the match starting late because of a clash of jerseys. St Michel finished three points clear of second placed La Passe. The champions garnered 43 points from their 18 matches. Cote d’Or were third 10 points behind the leaders.

St Michel have now won 10 titles, three behind the record of St Louis. La Passe were runners-up for a second successive year after wining the title in 2009.

A total of 46 countries have entered for the 2013 African Nations Cup finals, where COSAFA nation South Africa are automatically in the finals field as hosts. Qualifying for the event will start early next year, although the dates for the fixtures are yet to be set by the Confederation of African Football, and there will be three separate rounds to determine the 15 teams to join Bafana Bafana in the finals a little over a year from now.

For the first time since 1990, all the qualifying matches will be played on a knockout basis without any group action because of the short time between the 2012 finals and 2013 competition. CAF are switching the hosting of the Nations Cup from every even year to every odd year and have to sandwich the 2013 qualifiers into a period of just six months. There will be two ties played in the first round of the preliminaries followed by a further 14 in the second round.

Then, the 14 winners of the second round ties will be joined by 16 finalists from the 2012 African Nations Cup finals – Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Gabon, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia and Zambia. They will go into a draw for a third, and last, round of 15 matches and the winners of those ties, to be played over two legs home and away, will qualify for the finals in South Africa.

The six countries who have not entered the 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers are the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Eritrea, Mauritania, Mauritius and Somalia. There were a total of 51 entries out of a possible 52 for the African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil. Those qualifiers get underway later this month. The only country that did not enter was Mauritania, who said their team was not good enough.

First Round

• Seychelles v Swaziland
• Sao Tome e Principe v Lesotho

• Ethiopia v Benin
• Rwanda v Nigeria
• Congo v Uganda
• Burundi v Zimbabwe
• Algeria v Gambia
• Kenya v Togo Winner Sao Tome e Principe or Lesotho v Sierra Leone
• Guinea Bissau v Cameroon
• Chad v Malawi
• Winner Seychelles or Swaziland v DR Congo
• Tanzania v Mozambique
• Central African Republic v Egypt
• Madagascar v Cape Verde Islands
• Liberia v Namibia

COSAFA nation Mauritius have withdrawn from qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and will also not compete in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The island nation were due to face Liberia in a two-legged preliminary round clash in November, but the Liberians will now be given a bye through to the group stages, where they will join Senegal, Uganda and Angola.

The Mauritians have competed in every qualifiers but one since 1982. They missed the 1990 qualifiers because of debts owed to FIFA, who barred them from entering. The only other African country not to compete in the World Cup qualifying is Mauritania, while other sides who will not compete in the 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers are fellow COSAFA side Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Eritrea, Mauritania and Somalia.

Angola’s InterClube came within seconds of a place in the African Confederation Cup finals but lost to a stoppage time goal on Sunday night that ensured instead Maghreb Fes of Morocco go through to the final of this year’s Confederation Cup.

The goal from Chemseddine Chtebi ensured Fes won the semifinal return leg 1-0 to qualify for the final against Club Africain of Tunisia on the away goal rule, having lost the first clash 2-1 in Luanda.

Chtebi, who missed the first leg in Angola through suspension, finally broke a resolute defence five minutes into stoppage time.

The midfielder controlled a square pass from the left before he blasted from 25 yards into the top right corner of the net to spark off a wild victory party.

The four-time Moroccan champions pressed for the all-important goal from the first whistle, but to their credit, Inter Clube did not sit back in their defence as they also attacked their hosts.

Botswana national team coach Stanley Tshosane was in South Africa last week to visit his star players in the country ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Tshosane and assistant coach Kenneth Mogae toured the country as they made contact with their leading players, all of who will be vital to their chances of success at their maiden continental finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon next year.

Botswana have six national team players currently plying their trade in South Africa – Magogi Gabonamong and Dipsy Selolwane at SuperSport United, Phenyo Mongala at Bloemfontein Celtic, Boitumelo Mafoko at Santos and Modiri Marumo from First Division Bay United, and the unattached Jerome Ramatlhakwane. Gabonamong, Selolwane and Ramatlhakwane will be particularly crucial to the cause, having played a central role in helping Botswana qualify for their first-ever finals.

SAFA have appointed experienced junior coach Solly Luvhengo to lead the national Under-20 side to the 2011 Metropolitan COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships to be held in Botswana from December 1-10. Luvhengo has previously coached the men’s national Under-17 side, and also led the women’s Under-17 team, Abantwana, to the 2010 FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup held in Trinidad & Tobado last year.

His exploits with both those sides earned him the SAFA Coach of the Year prize in 2010 and he has now been tasked with reviving the men’s Under-20 team after what has been a disappointing 18 months for the side. Their loss to Lesotho in the qualifiers for the 2011 African Youth Championships was a blow, but they competed anyway after South Africa was awarded the hosting of the event when Libya withdrew. Khabo Zondo was in charge for the qualification failure, as well as a first round exit at the 2010 Metropolitan COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships after losses to Lesotho and Namibia.

Maqsood Chenia then took the team to the African Youth Championships, but they also went out in the group stages, and so Luvhengo becomes the third coach in under a year for the beleaguered Amajita. Luvhengo’s CV also includes a stint with National First Division side Winners Park which lasted just four months between August 2009 and January 2010.

Namibia will take on Lesotho in a friendly international to be played in Windhoek on October 31. The match will be a warm-up for the COSAFA nations ahead of their 2014 FIFA World Cup preliminary round qualifiers in November. Namibia will take on Djibouti over two legs, the first away on November 11 and the second at home on November 15, while Lesotho take on Burundi on the same dates, with their first leg at home.

Meanwhile, Namibia coach Bernard Kaanjuka returned at the weekend from an inspection visit to Djibouti to make sure the facilities that have been laid on for his side meet FIFA specifications.

Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri says he will step down at the end of his contract in June and is not available to lead Malawi in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Phiri, who took the Flames to the 2010 African Nations Cup finals but narrowly missed out on a second successive appearance at the 2012 edition, has told reporters he intends leaving in the wake of the 2-2 draw in Chad earlier this month which cost Malawi a place at the upcoming tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

“My contract ends in June and I’ll be a happy man because the history will still remain that Kinnah Phiri did something for his country,” he said. “I promise we would qualify for the Nations Cup which I did and secondly I promised to the nation to put the team on a better position as far as FIFA ranking is concerned. “Whether you like it or not, whether you hate me or not, the Flames have done well during my tenure. From the eight games we played during the (2012) qualifiers, we have not lost any.

We missed qualification by a whisker,” he added. Phiri said he would be gone by June 1, ahead of Malawi’s first World Cup two qualifier against either Kenya or the Seychelles on the first weekend of June and Nigeria the next weekend.

French coach Herve Renard has returned to the national team coaching job in Zambia, agreeing a one-year contract to take the team to next year's African Nations Cup finals and also start their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, Zambia's football association confirmed on Saturday. Renard was Zambia's coach at the last Nations Cup finals in Angola in 2010 where they lost in the quarter-finals in a post-match penalty shootout but left afterwards to take over at Angola and then Algerian club USM Alger. He returns to Zambia to replace former Italian international Dario Bonetti, fired last week despite qualifying the country for the 2012 finals.

Renard, 43, was the assistant coach with hosts Ghana at the 2008 Nations Cup finals but signed six months later to take charge of Zambia, his first senior job. He played at Cannes in France before working under compatriot Claude LeRoy in China, England and with Ghana's Black Stars. His record with Zambia was 14 wins, 10 draws and 10 defeats in 34 matches but his next spell with Angola ended with a sacking after just a seven-month spell. He has been coach at USM Alger since January and leaves them on top of the Algerian league standings. Zambia await next weekend's Nations Cup draw to discover their opponents in the 2012 finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

The tournament starts on Jan. 21. Next June, Zambia start World Cup qualifying with matches against the Sudan and Ghana.