Hosts Malawi had to twice come from behind as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Botswana in their opening match in Group A at the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier on Friday.
It was a pulsating fixture in which to get the tournament under way and was played in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Bingu National Stadium. The competition forms part of the Region 5 Games Lilongwe 2022.
Losika Ratshukudu gave Botswana an early lead on 11 minutes with a deflected free-kick from all of 35-yards, but Malawi improved as the first half wore on.
They equalised just past the half-hour mark when the lovely Vincent Harrison beat the offside trap, rounded the goalkeeper and supplied a neat finish into the net.
Botswana took the lead again when Ratshukudu’s delivery into the box was steered into his own net by Malawi goalkeeper Julius Banda.
But Malawi continued to push forward and were rewarded with an equaliser as Mwisho Mhango drilled his free-kick from the edge of the box with enough power to beat the wall and the goalkeeper.
The other side in this three-team pool is Namibia, who Malawi will meet next on Sunday.
The top two sides in each group advance to the semifinals, with the two finalists booking a place in the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 that will be played next April.
The qualifiers will continue on Saturday when two games are played in Group B.
Seychelles take on South Africa in the first game at 15h30 CAT with both seeking a morale-boosting victory in what is likely to be a tough pool.
Seychelles are back in the competition for the first time since 2018, while South Africa are under the new stewardship of former Bafana Bafana striker Duncan Crowie.
The second match already looks a heavyweight clash as runners-up in the last two years, Zambia, take on Mozambique at 18h30 CAT.
Both will certainly have eyes on the winners’ trophy and so this fixture could be decisive in who finishes top of the pool.
The COSAFA Girls’ Championship also resumes on Saturday with Botswana hoping to bounce back from opening day defeat when they tackle Comoros in Group B (kick-off 10h00 CAT).
Last year’s beaten finalists Botswana lost their opener 5-0 against Zambia but can still qualify for the semifinals if they can get a win in this encounter. That will
leave them keeping an eye on Comoros final match against Zambia on Monday.
South Africa defeated Malawi 4-1 in their first game and can wrap up a semifinal spot with another victory against Namibia (13h00 CAT).
All matches will be streamed live on COSAFA.TV and FIFA+, and you can get a full rundown of the Girls’ fixtures right here, and the Boys’ matches here.
We will also be providing coverage across our multitude of social media platforms – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube – where we will provide news and behind-the-scenes features from Lilongwe.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
TOTALENERGIES U17 AFCON ALGERIA 2023 | COSAFA QUALIFIER
Group A
Malawi 2 (Vincent Harrison 32’, Mwisho Mhango 64’) Botswana 2 (Losika Ratshukudu 11’, Julius Banda 47’og)
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES
COSAFA GIRLS’ UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP
Group B
10h00 CAT (08h00 GMT): Comoros vs Botswana – Bingu National Stadium
Group A
13h00 CAT (11h00 GMT): Namibia vs South Africa – Bingu National Stadium
TOTALENERGIES U17 AFCON ALGERIA 2023 | COSAFA QUALIFIER
Group B
15h30 CAT (13h30 GMT): Seychelles vs South Africa – Bingu National Stadium
Group B
18h30 CAT (16h30 GMT): Zambia vs Mozambique – Bingu National Stadium
TOTALENERGIES U17 AFCON ALGERIA 2023 | COSAFA QUALIFIER STATISTICS
Matches Played: 1
Goals scored: 4
Biggest victory: –
Most goals in a game: 4 – Malawi 2 Botswana 2 (Group A, December 2)
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Botswana | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Malawi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Namibia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Mozambiique | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seychelles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zambia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GOALSCORERS
1 goal – Vincent Harrison (Malawi), Mwisho Mhango (Malawi), Losika Ratshukudu (Botswana)
Own Goal – Julius Banda (Malawi)
COSAFA GIRLS’ UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
Matches Played: 2
Goals scored: 10
Biggest victory: Zambia 5 Botswana 0 (Group B, December 1)
Most goals in a game: 5 – Zambia 5 Botswana 0 (Group B, December 1); Malawi 1 South Africa 4 (Group A, December 1)
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Namibia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malawi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Comoros | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Botswana | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Bwalya Chileshe (Zambia), Andielle Mibe (South Africa)
1 – Harriet Matipa (Zambia), Mary Mbalangwe (Malawi), Mabahle Mdelwa (South Africa), Khutso Mogano (South Africa), Jessy Zulu (Zambia), Zangose Zulu (Zambia)
Le Malawi et le Botswana dos à dos
C’est le match qu’il ne fallait pas manquer pour cette première journée du Boys’ TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier. Le Malawi débutait la compétition face au Botswana. Et dans ce choc de style, la rencontre s’est achevée sur le score de 2-2. L’engagement était omniprésent tout au long des 90 minutes mais au final, aucune des deux formations n’est parvenue à prendre l’ascendant.
Les jeunes botswanais avaient pourtant pris le meilleur départ après le but de Losiko Ratshukudu dès la 12eminute de jeu. Mais Vincent Harrison a permis aux Malawites de rétablir la parité juste après la demi-heure de jeu. Dans un stade plein à craquer, cette égalisation a eu le mérite de réveiller les supporteurs qui avaient fait le déplacement.
Mais le match était loin d’être terminé. Après la pause, le même Ratshukudu s’illustrait de nouveau, prouvant au passage qu’il faudra compter sur lui tout au long de la compétition. Il surgissait à la 46e minute pour redonner l’avantage aux Botswanais. Et alors que le Malawi repartait avec une défaite au compteur, Mwisho Mhango transformait habilement un coup franc pour permettre au pays hôte d’arracher le nul. C’est d’ailleurs Mhango qui a obtenu le trophée de joueur du match.
Un programme étoffé animera la journée de samedi avec pas moins de quatre rencontres au programme. Ainsi, ceux et celles engagés dans la COSAFA Girls’ U17 Championship et le Boys’ TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier auront une belle carte à jouer. Et d’ailleurs les risques d’élimination seront bel et bien présents durant cette journée.
Ce sont les filles qui seront les premières à se lancer avec un premier match à 10h entre les Comores et le Botswana. Les Comoriennes joueront leur match inaugural dans la compétition alors que les Botswanaises sont au bord de l’élimination. Battu en match d’ouverture, elles doivent impérativement l’emporter cette fois.
A 13h, l’Afrique du Sud tentera de valider son billet pour le tour suivant. Les Sud-Africaines se sont baladées lors de la première journée. Cette fois, elles sont opposées à la Namibie et auront un joli coup à jouer dans ce groupe A. Pour sa part, la Namibie effectue son entrée en lice.
Chez les hommes, ce sont les pensionnaires du groupe B qui seront à suivre à partir de 15h30. Les Seychelles affronteront l’Afrique du Sud avant que le choc de samedi qui verra la Zambie défier le Mozambique. Les Seychellois n’ont pas souvent brillé dans ce tournoi et face à une équipe prometteuse d’Afrique du Sud, il faudra sortir le grand jeu pour espérer obtenir un bon résultat. De son côté, la Zambie s’avance comme le favori mais attention aux Mozambicains qui ont souvent brillé dans les compétitions réservées aux jeunes.
A noter que toutes les rencontres sont à suivre en streaming sur COSAFA.TV et sur FIFA+. Retrouvez également les faits de matchs, les photos du jour, les vidéos insolites ainsi que les résultats sur toutes nos plateformes numériques, à savoir Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok et YouTube.
Malawi e Botswana dividem pontos!
As selecções Malawi e do Botswana não foram para além de um empate a duas bolas (2-2), na jornada inaugural do Grupo A, em desafio referente ao torneio COSAFA sub-17 masculino qualificativo ao TotalEnergies Campeonato Africano das Nações (CAN) Argélia-2023. Este desafio foi antecedido com cerimónia de abertura do da 10.ª edição dos Jogos do Conselho Superior de Desporto da África Austral (AUSC), que se disputam em Lilongwe, Malawi e foi testemunhado pelo presidente daquele país Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera e o seu homónimo moçambicano, Filipe Nysusi.
Amanhã será a vez do Grupo B entrar em cena, sendo que as Seychelles terão pela frente a África do Sul, às 15.30 horas, enquanto mais tarde, a Zâmbia e Moçambique terão o encontro marcado às18.30 horas, no Bingu National Stadium, local que também irá acolher o primeiro embate.
Este torneio se afigura importante, pois servirá de qualificação zonal de acesso ao CAN da categoria, tal como já foi referenciado.
Frisar que a África do Sul lidera a lista das nações com mais títulos (3), seguindo a Zâmbia e Angola com dois cada. Com apenas um troféu nas suas prateleiras, estão as selecções do Malawi (2001), Namíbia (2016) e Zimbabwe (2007).
Segundo o Regulamento da prova, as equipas estão divididas em dois grupos (A e B), sendo que o primeiro classificado do Grupo A disputará as meias-finais com o segundo melhor classificado do Grupo A, sendo que o vencedor do Grupo B cruzará com o segundo melhor classificado do Grupo B.
O filme do jogo
Ainda na alvorada do jogo o guarda-redes do Malawi Julius Banda foi traído com a barreira montada pelos seus colegas para defender o livre directo bem executado pelo meio-campista do Botswana Losika Ratsukudu que inaugurou o placard aos 12 minutos.
Mesmo depois do golo sofrido, a equipa caseira não cruzou os braços e procurou ir atrás do prejuízo ensaiando várias saídas de ataque, que não surtiam o efeito desejado.
Perante o apoio dos frenéticos adeptos malauianos que afluíram em massa ao Bingu National Satdium, os treinados do experimentado Deklerk Msakakuona, técnico do Malawi procuravam a todo custo responder a altura, não obstante a falta de objectividade na hora de visar a baliza contrária.
Depois de várias tentativas e, quando o marcador indicava 32 minutos disputados, numa jogada envolvente, a defensiva do Botswana abriu espaço e permitiu que o Malawi chegasse ao golo do empate por intermédio do artilheiro Vincent Harrison, este que respondeu positivamente a uma assistência do seu colega Mwisho Mhabgo.
As duas equipas foram ao intervalo empatadas, mas o ascendente ofensivo a pertencer ao anfitrião, que a todo custo procurou resolver o jogo antes do apito final.
No reatamento Botswana voltou a adiantar-se no marcador beneficiando-se de um autogolo do guarda-redes Julius Banda, que uma vez mais foi obstruído pelos seus defesas, após um ponta-pé-de-canto batido pelo autor do primeiro golo. Não tardou a resposta por parte dos anfitriões que igualaram por intermédio de Mwisho Mhango (64´) estabelecendo o 2-2.
