Defending champions South Africa will face Botswana in the decider of the 2020 COSAFA Women’s Championship after both won through contrasting semifinals in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday.
South Africa defeated Malawi 6-2, the home side running away with it in the second half, as the Scorchers suffering from an early red card for goalkeeper Samir Amidu.
Botswana edged fancied Zambia 2-1 for a first ever visit to the COSAFA Women’s Championship and on to the cusp of what would be one of their greatest triumphs in the team’s history.
The final will be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 15h00), the magnificent World Cup venue that serves as a jewel in the Friendly City’s crown.
South Africa and Malawi were goalless at half-time of their semi, but the visitors were dealt a blow when Amidu was rightly red-carded on 20 minutes for a wild lunge on Hilda Magaia just outside the box with the South African bearing down on goal.
The hosts made their numerical supremacy count in the second period, scoring six goals in 23 minutes to seize control of the tie.
The excellent Magaia netted a hat-trick that showcased all her technical ability, while Nomvula Kgoale grabbed a brace and Sibulele Holweni got the other goal.
That took Holweni to seven goals, level at the top of the tournament’s scorers list with Tabitha Chawinga, who netted Malawi’s second goal, by then a consolation.
Her sister Temwa Chawinga had earlier levelled the game with a brilliant free-kick that beat home goalkeeper Andile Dlamini all ends up.
Botswana booked a place in their first ever COSAFA Women’s Championship final with a stunning success over Olympic Games-bound Zambia.
It was some sweet revenge for The Mares, who had been ousted by Zambia in the Olympic qualification process with a 3-0 aggregate loss, this after they had beaten South Africa in the earlier rounds.
It is also growth from Botswana, who reached the semifinals of the COSAFA tournament last year, but lost 4-0 to the Zambians and were then beaten by Zimbabwe in the third-place play-off.
Lone Gaofetoge handed them the lead inside eight minutes on Thursday with a stunning long-range drive, though only she will know if the ball from wide on the right was meant to be a cross.
Either way it nestled in the top corner and provided a massive boost in confidence for the Mares.
Botswana made it 2-0 from the penalty-spot six minutes before halftime following a handball in the area, with Refilwe Tholekele confidently stepping up to drive home the spot-kick.
However, Zambia were given hope deep into first half injury-time as Ireen Lungu played a neat one-two, before curling the ball into the back of the net.
It was all Zambia in the second period as Botswana were forced to defend in numbers, but despite some close moments, including a goal ruled out for offside, they were able to hold on for an historic win.
Meanwhile, South Africa ensured they would finish third in the COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship pool as they thumped Comoros Islands 9-0 in their final game on Thursday.
The final line-up had already been established going into the last round of pool matches, with Zambia to face Tanzania at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday (12h00), but there was pride to play for on both sides.
The home team were simply too strong though as they over-ran their opponents, and might have had many more as well.
Captain Jessica Wade took her tally for the competition to five with a brace, while Nabeelah Galant, Kanalelo Taiwe and Jade Leask also grabbed two each, the latter with a sumptuous long-range effort that was perhaps the pick. Thimna Mpehle got the other goal for the home side.
Zambia eased to a 5-2 victory over Zimbabwe to ensure they won all four of their pool games and go into Saturday’s final against Tanzania (12h00).
Tisilile Lungu netted a hat-trick for the Zambians, taking her total for the competition to five, in what was another dominant display with the side.
Tionge Sambo and Taonga Chulu got the other goals for Zambia, while 13-year-old Ropafadzo Maferefa and Rudo Machadu netted for Zimbabwe.
No fans will be allowed access into the stadium on final day, but the senior championship matches will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport’s Variety4 in South Africa, and Variety 4 Africa and Go Select 2, as well as being streamed LIVE on www.cosafa.tv. The Under-17 games will also be on COSAFA.TV.
COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals
Botswana 2 (Gaofetoge 8′, Tholekele 39’pen) Zambia 1 (Lungu 45’)
South Africa 6 (Kgoale 51’, 64’, Magaia 62’, 69’, 76’, Holweni 74’) Malawi 2 (Te. Chawinga 53’, Th. Chawinga 79’)
SATURDAY’S FIXTURE
Final
15h00 (13h00 GMT) – Botswana vs South Africa
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 9 |
| Angola | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 3 |
| Comoros Islands | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 1 |
*In order to calculate the best-placed runner-up, the matches involving last-placed Comoros Islands were discarded. So the standings are therefore: South Africa – 6 pts, +7; Angola – 3 pts, -1; Eswatini – 0 pts, -6
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Malawi (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 6 |
| Zambia (Q) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| Lesotho | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | -17 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Botswana (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Tanzania | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 14
Goals scored: 61
Biggest victory: Malawi 9 Lesotho 0 (Group B, November 7)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Malawi 9 Lesotho 0 (Group B, November 7)
GOALSCORERS
7 goals – Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Sibulele Holweni (South Africa)
4 – Nomvula Kgoale (South Africa), Hilda Magaia (South Africa)
3 – Barbra Banda (Zambia), Temwa Chawinga (Malawi), Cristina Makua (Angola), Tenanile Ngcamphalala (Eswatini)
2 – Grace Chanda (Zambia), Phumzile Dlamini (Eswatini), Ireen Lungu (Zambia), Gabriela Salgado (South Africa), Tebogo Tholekele (Botswana)
1 – Ana Afonso (Angola), Beatriz Augusto (Angola), Prisca Chilufya (Zambia), Karabo Dlamini (South Africa), Lone Gaofetoge (Botswana), Anllaouia Hadhirami Ali (Comoros Islands), Zaharouna Haoudadji (Comoros Islands), Abdourahmane Hairyat (Comoros Islands), Zainabu Kapanda (Malawi), Lonathemba Mhlongo (South Africa), Thanda Mokgabo (Botswana), Nonhlanhla Mthandi (South Africa), Maylan Mulenga (Zambia), Celiwe Nkambule (Eswatini), Mokgale Nonjabuliso (Eswatini), Kadosho Shekigenda (Tanzania), Asimenye Simwaka (Malawi)
COSAFA WOMEN’S UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
South Africa 9 (Wade 24’pen, 37′, Mpehle 38′, Galant 44′, 50′, Taiwe 54’pen, 83′, Leask 56′, 90′) Comoros 0
Zambia 5 (Lungu 12′, 78’, 85’, Chulu 13′, Sambo 45′) Zimbabwe 2 (Machadu 58′, Maferefa 59’)
SATURDAY’S FIXTURE
Final
12h00 (10h00 GMT) – Zambia vs Tanzania
STANDINGS
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| Zambia (Q) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| Tanzania (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 9 |
| South Africa | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 6 |
| Zimbabwe | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 24 | -18 | 3 |
| Comoros | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 20 | -17 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 10
Goals scored: 61
Biggest victory: Tanzania 10 Zimbabwe 1 (November 10); South Africa 9 Comoros 0 (November 12)
Most goals in a game: 11 – Tanzania 10 Zimbabwe 1 (November 10)
GOALSCORERS
9 goals – Aisha Masaka (Tanzania)
5 – Tisilile Lungu (Zambia), Jessica Wade (South Africa)
4 – Nabeelah Galant (South Africa)
3 – Jade Leask (South Africa)
2 – Cindy Banda (Zambia), Taonga Chulu (Zambia), Mwanamvua Haruna (Tanzania), Rudo Machadu (Zimbabwe), Ropafadzo Maferefa (Zimbabwe), Protasia Mbunda (Tanzania), Noussrat Mistoihi (Comoros), Shehat Mohamedi (Tanzania), Neema Shibara (Tanzania), Kanalelo Taiwe (South Africa)
1 – Zawadi Athuman (Tanzania), Bupe Banda (Zambia), Mohamed Dalila (Comoros), Ester Gindulya (Tanzania), Koku Kipanga (Tanzania), Irene Kisisa (Tanzania), Joyce Lema (Tanzania), Oyisa Marhasi (South Africa), Thimna Mpehle (South Africa), Brenda Ndarowa (Zimbabwe), Morelife Nyagumbo (Zimbabwe), Tionge Sambo (Zambia), Tyler Scott (South Africa), Comfort Selemani (Zambia)
Own goal – Shehat Mohamedi (Tanzania)
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Le Botswana et l’Afrique du Sud en finale
Contre la Zambie, le Botswana, en constante progression depuis ces dernières années, n’a pas vraiment souffert. Les Zèbres avaient déjà réalisé l’essentiel du travail dans la première mi-temps grâce au doublé de Tholekele. La Zambie a répliqué par le biais de Lungu en fin de première période mais il était trop tard. Tholekele en est déjà à son troisième but dans le tournoi et s’affirme comme étant la pierre angulaire de cette formation.
Sans aucun doute, elle sera la pièce maitresse des Botswanaises en finale. Ces dernières ont d’ailleurs plusieurs occasions pour aggraver le score surtout dans le dernier quart. Mais la maladresse a souvent été au rendez-vous. Quand le tir était cadré, c’est le gardien de but qui parvenait à sortir le ballon.
Chez les U17, l’Afrique du Sud a réalisé un carton en s’imposant 9-0 face aux Comores. Une victoire qui compte pour du beurre car les deux formations étaient éliminées de la compétition avant le coup d’envoi.
Contre des Comoriennes totalement dépassé et avec bien moins d’expérience au compteur, les Sud-Africaines n’ont laissé aucune occasion de planter un but. D’ailleurs, il y a eu plusieurs doublés dans cette rencontre. Wade, Galant, Taiwe et Leask ont chacune trouvé le cadre à deux reprises. A défaut d’être reversé en finale, l’Afrique du Sud se consolera avec ce festival. Les Comoriennes terminent dernière du tournoi avec aucun succès au tableau.
La Zambie n’a eu aucun mal à se débarasser du Zimbabwe qu’elle a battu 5-2. Les Shepopolos terminent en tête du classement avec 12 points pris sur 12 possibles. Les Zambiennes affronteront la Tanzanie en finale samedi.
Chez les Seniors, le choc entre l’Afrique du Sud et le Malawi a tenu toutes ses promesses. Mais au final, c’est l’Afrique du Sud qui a eu le dernier mot et semble être bien parti pour retenir son bien. Les Sud-Africaines se sont imposées 6-2 contre une combative formation du Malawi mais n’ont pas eu les ressources pour aller jusqu’au bout.
Ce sera donc une finale inédite entre la surprenante équipe du Botswana et une habituée, à savoir l’Afrique du Sud.
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Botswana e África do Sul jogam final no Nelson Mandela Bay!
As selecções do Botswana e da África do Sul, jogam, neste sábado, pelas 15.00 horas, no Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, final da oitava edição do Campeonato Sénior Feminino do Conselho das Associações de Futebol da África Austral (COSAFA), que vem sendo disputada, na cidade portuária de Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth), África do Sul, desde o passado dia 3 de Dezembro. Para chegar a esta fase, o Botswana venceu, hoje, a sua congénere do Botswana por tangenciais 2-1, enquanto que, as campeãs em título derrotaram o Malawi por 6-2.
Mapula Kgoale (50´ e 64´), Holweni (73´) e Magaia (62´, 58´ 76’), esta última eleita melhor jogadora em campo, foram as autoras dos golos da incontestável vitória das “Banyana Banyana”, nome de guerra da equipa, sul-africana.
A África do Sul terá a oportunidade de vigar a derrota sofrida, no ano passado, diante deste mesmo adversário, na corrida dos Jogos Olímpicos de Tóquio, por 1-0.
A anfitriã África do Sul, inserida no grupo “A”, fez o pleno terminando a fase de grupos com um total de nove (9) pontos, frutos dos três jogos disputados. No primeiro desafio, as caseiras levaram de vencida a turma angolana, por 2-0, sendo que no segundo, aplicou a “chapa cinco” (5-0) ao Eswatini, para depois encerrar com uma goleada diante das Ilhas Comores, por 7-0.
A Zâmbia sentiu na pele os horrores porque o Botswana passou, na edição passada, após perder, nas meias-finais, por quatro bolas sem concorrência (4-0). Um jogo de má memória, em que a atacante Rachel Nachula esteve em evidência, bisando nos minutos 11 e 77. Hoje, os papéis inverteram-se. Botswana foi quem sorriu no fim!
Contra todas as expectativas, os prognósticos atribuíam certo favoritismo a Zâmbia. Quando menos se esperava, as representantes do Botswana adiantaram-se no marcador a passagem do minuto sete (7), com um remate surpreendente, batido a meia distância, por Lone Gaofetoge. Estava feito o 1-0.
A anular todas as linhas de passe e apertando o cerco na defesa, o Botswana conseguiu ensaiar algumas jogadas de contra-ataque, que sempre abanavam, as defesas contrárias. Numa dessas incursões, as “The Mares”, alcunha da selecção tsuana, chegaram ao golo depois de ter beneficiado de um penálti. Na cobrança, Refilwe Tholekele (39´),fez como mandam as regras, atirando a contar.
Por sua vez, a Zâmbia foi a tempo de reduzir o placard o quarto minuto de compensação da primeira parte por intermédio de Ireen Lungu (45´+4).
Foi uma revanche a altura, depois de na edição passada o Botswana ter Lembrar que na edição passada, Botswana perdeu para a sua congénere doo Zimbabwe, por 3-0, em partida referente a atribuição do terceiro e quarto lugar.
Zâmbia morre na praia
Já a Zâmbia (grupo “B”), vice-campeã em título, entrou demolidora para o troneio impondo uma estrondosa goleada sobre o Lesotho, por 8-0. Apesar de ter sofrido uma derrota diante do Malawi (1-0), tal como já havíamos referenciado, a Zâmbia conseguiu garantir a sua vaga nas meias-finais, graças ao regulamento da prova que sorriu a seu favor.
A selecção de Angola que também venceu, na última jornada o Eswatini, por 4-3, terminando como a segunda melhor classificada de todos ( com 4 pontos), não conseguiu transitar para as meias-finais, como era de esperar, isto por força do regulamento da prova, que diferencia os critérios de apuramento entre os grupos com o número inferior de equipas (“B” e “C”), com três (3) equipas, e o “A”, o único com quatro (4) pontos equipas.
Este critério acabou favorecendo a Zâmbia, que avançou como a segunda melhor classificada de todos os grupos, tal como recomenda o regulamento da prova.
Refira-se que, o torneio vem sendo disputado na cidade portuária de Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth), África do Sul, desde o passado dia 3 de Novembro.
