Marcel Zimba profited from a defensive error as Zambia claimed a 1-0 victory over South Africa to top Group B at the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
The semifinal line-up is now complete with Zambia to take on Botswana and South Africa to meet hosts Malawi. Both matches will be played on Friday.
The two finalists in this year’s competition each win a place at the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 in April.
After a goalless first half, Zambia took the lead when the South African goalkeeper and a defender collided chasing the ball, leaving Zimba with the simple task of putting it into an empty net.
Mozambique and Seychelles finished their Group B campaigns with a rather tame 0-0 draw that means both at least go home with a point having lost their first two matches.
Meanwhile, defending champions Zambia claimed a place in the final of the COSAFA Girls’ Under-17 Championship but were made to work hard by debutants Malawi in early play on Wednesday morning.
The teams contested a 2-2 draw before Zambia triumphed 3-1 on penalties to set up a decider against either South Africa or Botswana, who meet in the second semifinal on Thursday at 18h30 CAT.
Jessy Zulu put Zambia in front with an early penalty, but Malawi’s Rose Kadzere equalised shortly after halftime.
The Zambians were back in front when Zangose Zulu, but that joy was short-lived as competition top-scorer Kadzere netted her seventh of the campaign to level again.
However, it was the greater experience of the Zambians that shone through as they held their nerve in the shoot-out to run out victorious.
Malawi will now go for the consolation of a bronze medal against the loser in the second semifinal. That match will be played on Saturday, while the Girls’ final will be played on Sunday.
Both the Boys’ and Girls’ competitions are being played as part of the Region 5 Games Lilongwe 2022.
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.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
TOTALENERGIES U17 AFCON ALGERIA 2023 | COSAFA QUALIFIER
Group B
Seychelles 0 Mozambique 0
South Africa 0 Zambia 1 (Marcel Zimba 49’)
COSAFA GIRLS’ UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal
Zambia 2 (Jessy Zulu 3’pen, Zongose Zulu 63’) Malawi 2 (Rose Kadzere 52’ 76’) – Zambia won 3-1 on penalties
THURSDAY’S FIXTURES
COSAFA GIRLS’ UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal
18h30 CAT (16h30 GMT): South Africa vs Botswana – Bingu National Stadium
TOTALENERGIES U17 AFCON ALGERIA 2023 | COSAFA QUALIFIER STATISTICS
Matches Played: 8
Goals scored: 30
Biggest victory: Seychelles 0 South Africa 11 (Group B, December 3)
Most goals in a game: 11 – Seychelles 0 South Africa 11 (Group B, December 3)
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Malawi (Q) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Botswana (Q) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Namibia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| South Africa (Q) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 6 |
| Mozambique | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| Seychelles | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 18 | -17 | 1 |
GOALSCORERS
6 goals – Siyabonga Mabena (South Africa)
5 – Emmanuel Mwanza (Zambia)
3 – Benjamin Wallis (South Africa)
2 – Losika Ratshukudu (Botswana), Marcel Zimba (Zambia)
1 – Vincent Harrison (Malawi), Lorenzo Hoareau (Seychelles), Blessings Kanowa (Malawi), Lutetekelo Kapowa (Zambia), Dhakier Lee (South Africa), Xhosa Manyana (South Africa), Mwisho Mhango (Malawi), Bennet Mokoena (South Africa), Webster Mzunda (Malawi), Dorian Nanuseb (Namibia), Kelvin Phiri (Zambia)
Own Goal – Julius Banda (Malawi)
COSAFA GIRLS’ UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
Matches Played: 7
Goals scored: 56
Biggest victory: Namibia 0 South Africa 12 (Group A, December 3); Malawi 12 Namibia 0 (Group A, December 5)
Most goals in a game: 12 – Namibia 0 South Africa 12 (Group A, December 3); Malawi 12 Namibia 0 (Group A, December 5)
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 15 | 6 |
| Malawi (Q) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
| Namibia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | -24 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 6 |
| Botswana (Q) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Comoros | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | -18 | 0 |
GOALSCORERS
7 goals – Rose Kadzere (Malawi)
4 – Andrielle Mibe (South Africa)
3 – Faith Chinzimu (Malawi), Lotang Ebineng (Botswana), Nobahle Mdelwa (South Africa), Harriet Matipa (Zambia), Lubasi Pumulo (Zambia), Jessy Zulu (Zambia), Zangose Zulu (Zambia)
2 – Bwalya Chileshe (Zambia), Leticia Chinyamula (Malawi), Katlo Ditsile (Botswana), Olwethu Sosibo (South Africa),
1 – Anna Baziliyo (Malawi), Tatiana Correia (South Africa), Lebogang Dilelo (Botswana), Julia Goncalves (South Africa), Mbapeua Hangara (Botswana), Suwiranji Lukondo (Zambia), Tricia Mabamba (Zambia), Mary Mbalangwe (Malawi), Chikondi Mgodi (Malawi), Khutso Mogano (South Africa), Palesa Mokopakgosi (Botswana), Gositang Motshegwe (South Africa), Esther Musialela (Zambia), Naledi Nkosi (South Africa), Sinazo Ntshota (South Africa), Ntando Phahla (South Africa)
Les affiches des demies connues
La Zambie s’est fait peur mais verra la finale de la COSAFA Girls’ Under-17 Championship. Les Young Copper Queens ont dû avoir recours à l’épreuve des tirs au but pour l’emporter face au Malawi. Dans la TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier, le dernier carré est constitué. Il verra la Zambie croiser le fer avec le Botswana vendredi alors que dans l’autre demi-finale, le Malawi fera face à Afrique du Sud.
Un long round d’observation. C’est ainsi que l’on pourrait qualifier le match entre l’Afrique du Sud et la Zambie. Les deux formations originaires du groupe B jouait avec l’ambition de terminer premier de la poule. Ce sont les Zambiens qui ont accompli cette mission en s’imposant sur le plus petit des scores après un but de Marcel Zimba à la 79e minute.
Les Seychelles et le Mozambique, déjà éliminés au coup d’envoi, n’ont pas pu se départager. Pourtant, les occasions n’ont pas manquées alors que les deux formations s’étaient livrées un duel intense. C’est finalement sur un 0-0 que Mozambicains et Seychellois ont quitté la compétition. Petit lot de consolation néanmoins. Ils ont débloqué leur compteur avec un point chacun.
Chez les filles, le Malawi et la Zambie se sont rendus coup pour coup dans la première demi-finale. Les Zambiennes ont surtout prouvé qu’elles savaient parfaitement retourner une situation qui leur était largement défavorable. Jessy Zulu avait ouvert le score dès la 3e minute de jeu pour les Zambiennes mais Kadzere a ensuite rétabli la parité. Zangose Zulu a ensuite permis à la Zambie de repasser devant juste après l’heure de jeu.
Mais l’incontournable Kadzere a une nouvelle fois frappé en marquant son 7e but de la compétition (76e). Ce coup d’éclat n’a toutefois pas été suffisant et les deux formations ont dû se résigner à avoir recours aux tirs au but pour se départager. Dans cet exercice, ce sont les Zambiennes qui s’en sont les mieux sorties en convertissant trois tirs contre un pour le Malawi.
La deuxième demi-finale verra l’Afrique du Sud croiser le fer avec le Botswana ce jeudi à 18h30. Ce sont les Sud-Africaines qui partent avec un léger avantage ayant inscrit 16 buts en phase de groupe et n’ayant concédé qu’un.
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.
Moçambique e Seychelles empatam no adeus ao CAN!
As selecções nacionais de Futebol Sub-17 das Seychelles e a sua congénere de Moçambique empataram, hoje, sem abertura de contagem (0-0) e despediram-se, do torneio COSAFA da categoria, que é qualificativo para o para o TotalEnergies Campeonato Africano das Nações (CAN) Argélia-2023. Este desafio estava inserido na terceira e última jornada da fase de grupos.
Os treinados de Dário Monteiro, técnico moçambicano procuraram chegar ao golo, mas a organizada e sólida defensiva dos insulares anulava qualquer intenção de visar a sua baliza contrária. foi um jogo intenso e dramático, ficando notável o enorme potencial que as duas equipas apresentam, não obstante a saída precoce da competição.
Integrados no Grupo “B”, os “Mambinhas”, nome de guerra da formação moçambicana perderam na segunda-feira para a África do Sul por 1-0, o mesmo resultado consentido no duelo frente à Zâmbia, na jornada inaugural desta prova. Estes terminaram a prova com apenas um ponto nesta que é a estreia absoluta da rapaziada moçambicana à semelhança dos ilhéus, que foram trucidados, respectivamente pela África do Sul e Zâmbia, por 11-0 e 7-1, nos dois jogos na fase de grupos.
De resto, os dois conjuntos jogaram apenas para cumprir o cumprimento do calendário, uma vez que a entrada desta ronda estavam fora das eliminatórias ao “Africano”.
Com efeito, a África do Sul melhor classificada no Grupo “B” medirá forças com o Botswana, segundo melhor classificado do Grupo “A”, na primeira meia-final a realizar-se neste sábado, no Bingu National Stadium, às 18.30 horas, enquanto que o anfitrião Malawi, primeiro classificado no Grupo “A” enfrentará a Zâmbia, segunda melhor classificada na série “B”, no mesmo local quando forem 21.30 horas.
Entretanto, ainda hoje, a Zâmbia saiu-se vitoriosa no duelo frente a África do Sul, mercê do tento solitário do avançado Marcel Zimba apontado a passagem do minuto 49. Com este resultado, os zambianos terminaram a fase de grupos com 9 pontos, frutos de três triunfos, ocupando a segunda posição com seis pontos.
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).
Por sua vez, em 2019, Moçambique sagrou-se vice-campeão, após perder na final, realizada em Blantyre, por 2-0, diante da sua congénere da Zâmbia, depois de ter perdido por 2-1, para a África do Sul em 1994.
