Tabitha Chawinga scored a hattrick as Malawi took charge of Group C at the 2022 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship with a 6-0 victory over Comoros at the Madibaz Stadium on Monday.
The victory leaves the Scorchers top of the pool going into the final round of games, where victory against defending champions Tanzania will ensure they finish top.
But should their clash finish in a draw, and Botswana beat Comoros, that will leave all three teams on five points and officials will need to get their calculators out to check the head-to-head scenario.
It looks to be the tightest of the groups, where two teams who finish on five points could yet advance to the semifinals.
Malawi took the lead on 17 minutes as Fazila Chembekezo looped a header over Comoros goalkeeper Aicha Said after a period of heavy pressure.
It took until the second half for the Scorchers to secure a second goal as Rose Kadzere fired home from the edge of the six-yard box.
After that it became the Chawinga show as she netted a hattrick inside 19 minutes, her first a close-range tap-in, the second a cool finish after she beat the offside trap, and finally a thunderous strike from inside the box.
Wezzie Mvula had been a thorn in the side for Comoros all game and netted Malawi’s sixth as she too ran in behind the islanders’ defence and rounded the goalkeeper.
Tanzania and Botswana played to an entertaining 0-0 draw in the second match of the day, with chances at either end and both goalkeepers in top form.
Tanzania perhaps shaded the opportunities but could not convert in what is a second successive draw for The Mares.
The east African guest nation will likely be the happier of the two sides, but last season’s beaten finalists Malawi can avenge their defeat in the 2021 decider when the teams meet in the final pool game on Wednesday.
Groups A and B will both be concluded on Tuesday with the final round of matches in each pool played concurrently.
They will kick-off at 12h00 (10h00 CAT) with matches in Group B as Lesotho to take on Namibia at the Madibaz Stadium and Eswatini to tackle already qualified Zambia at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium.
The key battle is the one between Lesotho and Namibia, with both aiming for a win that could potentially see them qualify as the best placed runner-up, though Lesotho would probably have to significantly better their goal-difference as well.
Zambia will be looking for a full haul of nine points when they take on an Eswatini side who have lost both of their games so far.
Later in the afternoon it will be the turn of the combatants in Group A as winless Mauritius take on Angola at the Madibaz Stadium (kick-off 15h30 CAT), while at the same time South Africa meet Mozambique at the Wolfson Stadium.
South Africa must avoid defeat to advance in top spot, while a win for Mozambique will put them through and leave the hosts sweating over the best runner-up position.
The best news for local fans is that tickets to the matches are FREE! They can be collected from SASOL outlets in Summerstrand, Disa, Motherwell and Standford Road.
All matches will be streamed live on www.cosafa.tv and FIFA+, and will also available on SuperSport, with selected games to be shown on SABC.
You can also follow the action at www.cosafa.com, and our official Twitter and Facebook pages.
VENUE CHANGE FOR THE MATCHES ON SEPTEMBER 7
The Group C fixtures scheduled for Wednesday will now be played as follows:
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Comoros vs Botswana – Madibaz Stadium
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Tanzania vs Malawi – Wolfson Stadium
MONDAY’S RESULTS
Group C
Malawi 6 (Chembekezo 18’, Kadzere 46’, Chawinga 63’, 75’, 82’, Mvula 90’) Comoros 0
Botswana 0 Tanzania 0
TUESDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B
12h00 (10h00 GMT) – Lesotho vs Namibia – Madibaz Stadium
12h00 (10h00 GMT) – Eswatini vs Zambia – Wolfson Stadium
Group A
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Mauritius vs Angola – Madibaz Stadium
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Mozambique vs South Africa – Wolfson Stadium
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| Mozambique | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Angola | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 1 |
| Mauritius | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | -9 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 6 |
| Namibia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Lesotho | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 |
| Eswatini | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Malawi | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Tanzania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Botswana | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Comoros | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | -9 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 12
Goals scored: 43
Biggest victory: Zambia 7 Lesotho 0 (Group B, September 4)
Most goals in a game: 7 – Zambia 7 Lesotho 0 (Group B, September 4)
GOALSCORERS
7 goals – Barbra Banda (Zambia)
3 – Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Boitumelo Rabale (Lesotho), Lithemba Sam-Sam (South Africa)
2 – Ivone Kooper (Namibia) Enekia Lunyamila (Tanzania), Refilwe Maseko (South Africa), Wezzie Mvula (Malawi)
1 – Fazila Chembekezo (Malawi), Zenatha Coleman (Namibia), Cidalia Cuta (Mozambique), Deolinda Gove (Mozambique), Rose Kadzere (Malawi), Veweziwa Kotjipati (Namibia), Evarine Katongo (Zambia), Isobel Jorge (Mozambique), Cristina Makua (Angola), Cina Manuel (Mozambique), Siomala Mapepa (Zambia), Donisia Minja (Tanzania), Sisanda Ndzinisa (Eswatini), Memory Ngonda (Namibia), Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Botswana), Michelle Sampson (South Africa), Sphumelele Shamase (South Africa), Lonica Tsanwane (Mozambique)
Own goal – Elsa Dadard (Mauritius)
Chawinga relance le Malawi, la Tanzanie en échec
Le Malawi s’est relancé dans la Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup Women’s Championship en étrillant les Comores 6-0 lundi au Madibaz Stadium à l’occasion de la 6e journée. De son côté la Tanzanie, championne en titre, a été accroché par le Botswana (0-0). Du coup, les Sheflames prennent la tête du groupe C.
Peu d’occasion et un match nul au coup de sifflet final. Le Botswana et la Tanzanie ne sont pas parvenus à se départager lundi au Madibaz Stadium. Les deux formations n’ont pas vraiment été incisives et cela s’est reflété sur le score. Ce partage de points place désormais la Tanzanie en deuxième position du tableau.
Les Tanzaniennes voient le Malawi leur passer devant grâce à une meilleure différence de buts. Malgré tout, Lone Gaofetoge du Botswana, est parvenue à obtenir le trophée de joueuse du matche grâce à sa présence en milieu.
C’est Tabhita Chawinga qui a porté les Sheflames. Elle a inscrit un triplé en 10 minutes (62e, 75e et 81e). En fait elle a été dans tous les bons coups car sa prestation sur le front de l’attaque a causé beaucoup de mal à ses adversaires. Ses mouvements ont permis de dégager des espaces qui ont laissé le champ libre à ses coéquipières. Elle a logiquement été récompensée par le titre de joueuse de la rencontre.
Dans ce match à sens unique, c’est Chembekezo qui a lancé les hostilités en ouvrant le score à la 16eminute. Kadzere l’a imité juste au retour des vestiaires. Enfin, Mvula a clôt le score en fin de rencontre. C’est son deuxième but dans la compétition et surement la plus facile puisqu’elle n’a eu qu’à pousser le cuir au fond des filets lorsque la défense comorienne a cessé de jouer, croyant à un hors-jeu.
Le dénouement sera pour aujourd’hui pour les pensionnaires du groupe A et du groupe B. Ils jouent leur troisième et dernier match de poule et les objectifs demeurent les mêmes, à savoir être au prochain tour. Dans cette optique, l’Afrique du Sud et la Zambie partent avec un temps d’avance pour avoir remporté leurs deux premières joutes. Il s’agira pour les deux équipes de finir le travail aujourd’hui.
Le premier match de ce mardi au Madibaz Stadium mettra aux prises le Lesotho à la Namibie. Les deux équipes comptent un succès et un revers. Elles possèdent donc trois points au compteur. C’est un peu une finale qu’elles se livreront avec la ferme intention de terminer meilleur deuxième du tournoi.
Au même moment mais au Wolfson Stadium, la Zambie peut réaliser le sans-faute contre l’Eswatini. Après ses deux premiers succès, les Copper Queens peuvent finir le travail. C’est d’ailleurs un festival de but qui attend Barbra Banda et sa bande. L’Eswatini, déjà éliminé à ce stade de la compétition devra tenter d’opposer une certaine résistance.
A 15h30, Maurice jouera face à l’Angola au Madibaz tandis que le Mozambique tentera de dépasser l’Afrique du Sud au classement du groupe A au Wolfson Stadium. Les Angolaises possèdent un mince espoir de rejoindre le dernier carré. C’est avec ça en tête qu’elles tenteront de l’emporter contre Maurice aujourd’hui. Les Mauriciennes sont déjà éliminées mais rien ne les empêche de prendre du plaisir pour leur dernière sortie.
Avec quatre unités au compteur, le Mozambique ne baisse pas les bras. Certes, la rencontre face contre l’Afrique du Sud ressemblera à tout sauf à une partie de plaisir. Quant aux Banyana Banyana, elles devront éviter de se faire piéger contre cette équipe du Mozambique qui a de l’ambition.
Hat-trick de Tabitha relança Malawi e Botswana-Tanzania deu nulo!
A artilheira e capitã da selecção do Malawi, actualmente a evoluir no emblema italiano, Inter de Milão, Tabitha Chawinga (62´, 75´; 81´), contribuiu com três golos na goleada que a sua equipa impôs, hoje, às Ilhas Comores, por 6-0, no desfecho da segunda jornada do Grupo C, da 10ª edição Taça COSAFA em Futebol Sénior Feminino a decorrer na cidade portuária de Port Elizabeth. Fazila (17´), Kadzere (46´) e Mvula (90´) marcaram os restantes golos.
Por sua vez, as convidadas e campeãs em título, Tanzania consentiram um empate sem golos frente ao Botswana, por sinal o segundo para as tsuanas, que ocupam agora a terceira posição com dois pontos, enquanto Malawi e Tanzania partilham a liderança com quatro pontos. As duas equipas irão discutir o acesso as “meias”, nesta quarta-feira, no Madibaz Stadium, às 15.30 horas, nesta que será a derradeira jornada.
Entretanto, é já amanhã que será conhecido o destino das selecções que se portaram bem nesta competição. O mesmo não se pode dizer das Ilhas, Maurícias, Eswatini e Comores, que praticamente estão fora da corrida pelo título.
Com efeito, a terceira e última jornada da fase de grupos encerra amanhã com a realização de quatros jogos que irão decorrer em simultâneo em campos e horários diferentes (Madibaz Stadium e Isaac Wolfson Stadium).
Por seu turno, as selecções das Maurícias e Angola, integrantes do Grupo A, digladiarão entre si, no Madibaz Stadium, às 12.00 horas, enquanto Moçambique e á anfitriã, África do Sul medirão forças entre si na luta por uma vaga nas “meias”, quando forem 15.30 horas, no Isaac Wolfson.
Já no grupo B, Lesotho e Namíbia (12.00 horas) batem-se no Campus da Universidade Nelson Mandela, onde está localizado o Madibaz Stadium, palco que irá acolher este duelo, enquanto Eswatini fará o jogo de despedida diante da Zâmbia, no Isaac Wolfson, a “catedral do futebol feminino”, pelas 15.00 horas.
Anotar que participam nesta competição 12 equipas divididas em três grupos, cada um com quatro. Segundo o regulamento da competição, apenas a melhor classificada de cada grupo avançará para as meias-finais, juntamente com o segundo melhor classificado de todos.
