Sabinah Thom scored a brace of goals as Malawi made history with a 3-2 victory over hosts and holders South Africa to secure a first ever place in the final of the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championships, where they will face Tanzania on Saturday.
It is the first time that seven-time winners South Africa have failed to make the decider of the Southern African championship, and sweet revenge for Malawi after they were beaten in last year’s semifinals by Banyana Banyana.
Saturday’s decider is likely to be an epic contest and gives Malawi the chance to claim a first piece of regional silverware, though they come up against CECAFA champions Tanzania, who edged Zambia on penalties earlier in the day.
South Africa and Zambia will now play for the bronze medal as a curtain-raiser to the decider.
Malawi led three times in their semifinal before finally seeing off the defending champions, hitting the front on 38 minutes as Fazila Chembekezo headed into the net.
The home side managed to equalise before the break though as Sibulele Holweni scored a stunner, shooting into the top corner from 30-yards.
South Africa struggled at the back all game and Malawi took advantage as Thom scored her first having been given far too much space inside the box.
But the home side levelled again 10 minutes from time when Holweni converted a penalty, and in doing so moved to four goals for the competition and top of the scorers charts. She was the leading scorer in last year’s tournament with eight goals.
Malawi would not be denied though and after another defensive calamity at the back, Thom scored her second with an expert finish.
Tanzania edged Zambia 3-2 on penalties in a pulsating first semifinal that finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.
The East African guest had the better of the first half, and were rewarded with the opening goal as Zambia defender Lushomo Mweemba put the ball into her own net.
But the Copper Queens came more into the game in the second half and were level with just over 20 minutes to go when captain Grace Chanda netted her third goal of the competition.
That took the match to penalties, but it was Tanzania who held their nerve as goalkeeper Janeth Simba produced a number of excellent saves in the shoot-out.
The third-place play-off between Zambia and South Africa will take place at 12h00 on Saturday, with the final between Tanzania and Malawi set for 15h00.
Both matches will be streamed live on www.cosafa.tv and also available on SuperSport, as well as SABC Sport Channel 124 on Openview.
You can also follow the action at www.cosafa.com, and our official Twitter and Facebook pages.
COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS STATISTICS
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals
Tanzania 1 (Mweemba 17’og) Zambia 1 (Chanda 69’)
Tanzania won 3-2 on penalties
South Africa 2 (Holweni 45’, 81’pen) Malawi 3 (Chembekezo 38’, Thom 74’, 86’)
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES
Third-Place Play-Off
12h00 (10h00 GMT) – Zambia vs South Africa
Final
15h00 (13h00 GMT) – Tanzania vs Malawi
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Malawi (Q) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Angola | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 |
| Mozambique | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 1 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Tanzania (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| Zimbabwe | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Botswana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| South Sudan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Uganda | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Namibia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 20
Goals scored: 62
Biggest victory: Botswana 7 South Sudan 0 (Group B, September 29)
Most goals in a game: 7 – Botswana 7 South Sudan 0 (Group B, September 29)
GOALSCORERS
4 goals – Sibulele Holweni (South Africa)
3 – Stumai Athuman (Tanzania), Grace Chanda (Zambia), Ochumba Lubandji (Zambia), Refiloe Tholakele (Botswana), Sabinah Thom (Malawi)
2 – Margaret Belemu (Zambia), Cidalia Cuta (Mozambique), Melinda Kgadiete (South Africa), Cina Manuel (Mozambique), Donisia Minja (Tanzania), Hasifah Nassuna (Uganda), Rudo Neshamba (Zimbabwe), Mwanahamisi Shurua (Tanzania)
1 – Zeferina Caupe (Angola), Noxolo Cesane (South Africa), Fazila Chembekezo (Malawi), Limbikani Chikupira (Malawi), Balothanyi Johannes (Botswana), Zainab Kapanda (Malawi), Ireen Khumalo (Malawi), Yara Lima (Angola), Aisha Masaka (Tanzania), Masego Montsho (Botswana), Emmaculate Msipa (Zimbabwe), Esther Mukwasa (Zambia), Lovisa Mulunga (Namibia), Priviledge Mupeti (Zimbabwe), Wezzie Mvula (Malawi), Riticia Nabbosa (Uganda), Joan Nabirye (Uganda), Sandra Nabweteme (Uganda), Madyina Nguluwe (Malawi), Celiwe Nkambule (Eswatini), Marjory Nyaumwe (Zimbabwe), Chieng Riek (South Sudan), Albertina Pondja (Mozambique), Lesego Radiakanyo (Botswana), Mokgabo Thanda (Botswana), Mary Wilombe (Zambia)
Own goal – Lushomo Mweemba (Zambia)
Finale inédite entre le Malawi et la Tanzanie
Jeudi, ce fut la journée des surprises. La Tanzanie et le Malawi ont arraché leur billet pour la finale de samedi contre toute attente. Les Tanzaniennes, invitées de la compétition, ont piégé la Zambie dans la séance des tirs au but alors que les Malawites ont réalisé un hold-up au nez de l’Afrique du Sud. C’était au cours de la 9ejournée de la COSAFA Women’s Senior Championship.
La Tanzanie s’est pourtant fait peur. Après avoir ouvert le score par l’entremise de Mweemba à la 17e minute, les Tanzaniennes ont subi la domination de la Zambie tout au long du match. Cette domination a d’ailleurs été récompensée par le but de Chanda qui a égalisé à la 69e minute.
Les deux formations ont ensuite réglé leur compte dans la séance des tirs au but. A ce petit jeu, ce sont les Tanzaniennes qui se sont montrées les plus adroites en transformant trois occasions contre deux pour les Zambiennes, annoncées comme les favorites avant le coup d’envoi. Devant l’abattage réalisé en milieu de terrain, Amina Bilali, la capitaine de la Tanzanie a tout logiquement été récompensée par le titre de joueuse du match.
Dans le second match, l’Afrique du Sud, multiple vainqueur de la compétition s’est fait surprendre par le Malawi. Les Malawites se sont imposées 3-2 dans un match à suspense. Holweni a inscrit un doublé (45e et 81e). Mais Thom l’a répondu à deux reprises (74e et 86e). Avant la double réalisation de Thom, Chembekezo avait d’abord ouvert le score à la 38e minute. Pour sa part, Asimenye Simwaka a été élue joueuse du match.
Ce succès est aussi une revanche pour les Malawites qui s’étaient inclinées contre l’Afrique du Sud en phase de groupe. Elles affronteront donc la Tanzanie samedi dans une finale inédite. La Zambie et l’Afrique du Sud essaieront, eux, de ne pas repartir bredouille en tentant de remporter la petite finale.
Tanzania e Malawi na final da COSAFA-2021… África do Sul diz adeus ao título!
As selecções da Tanzania e do Malawi, jogam, neste sábado, pelas 15.00 horas, no Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, a final da IX edição do Campeonato Sénior Feminino do Conselho das Associações de Futebol da África Austral (COSAFA), enquanto que a Zâmbia, semifinalista derrotada aos penalties pela Tanzania (3-2), defronta a sua congénere da África do Sul, em partida referente a atribuição do terceiro e quarto lugar, às 12.00 horas, no mesmo estádio.
Para chegarem a esta fase, as malauianas afastaram, hoje, as actuais detentoras do título (África do Sul) por 3-2, num jogo dramático, onde as duas equipas protagonizaram um verdadeira propaganda do futebol feminino.
Repetiu-se a história! A Zâmbia voltou a ser, uma vez mais, afastada nas meias-finais, depois de na edição passada ter perdido para o Botswana por 2-1.Desta vez, as zambianas viram-se impedidas de avançar para a final, após um intenso desafio que culminou num empate a uma bola (1-1) no tempo regulamentar, as duas equipas acabaram por decidir seus futuros no desempate de grandes penalidades.
Depois do pleno conseguido na fase de grupos, a convidada selecção da Tanzania deu claras indicações de que não seria uma pêra doce para a Zâmbia no duelo referente as meias-finais. Com um forte jogo ofensivo sobretudo na zona do meio-campo, a Tanzania procurou encostar as zambianas às cordas e, foi por meio da Mwanahamisi Omar, sobejamente tratada por Gaúcho, que a Tanzania chegou ao golo.
Depois de ter galgado o corredor esquerdo até a linha de fundo, a avançada a evoluir no Shabab Atlas do Marrocos desferiu um remate forte que esbarrou na defesa Lushomo Mweemba, que na tentativa de afastar a bola da zona de rigor acabou introduzindo a mesma na sua própria baliza quando estavam jogados 17 minutos. Um momento de infelicidade que levou a Tanzania com a desvantagem ao intervalo.
Abatidas mentalmente, as comandadas de Florence Nkatya (Zâmbia) voltaram a ser alvos de uma pressão estonteante, porém as mesmas não baixaram a cabeça e procuraram reverter a história do jogo. O inconformismo de inevitável Grace Chanda foi notável quando estavam jogados 69 minutos. Chanda, instalada na zona do meio contrário, apercebeu-se de uma ligeira saída da guarda-redes contrária e desferiu um petardo que foi parar no fundo das redes de Janeth Simba. Estava feito o 1-1, mas a decisão do finalista só seria conhecida na lotaria das grandes penalidade.
No final, foi a Tanzania quem saiu-se melhor graças a brilhantes exibição da guarda-redes, Eunice Sakala, que entrou a substituir a sua colega no apagar das luzes. Aliás, ela acabou sendo o trunfo do técnico Bakari Shime, para este triunfo.
Frisar que o torneio vem sendo disputado na cidade portuária de Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth), África do Sul, desde o passado dia 28 de Outubro pelo quarto ano consecutivo.
