Zambia, South Africa and Lesotho seeded for COSAFA Under-20

The 2018 COSAFA Under-20 Championships
will be held in Kitwe, Zambia in December...

Hosts Zambia, defending champions South Africa and last years’ runners-up Lesotho will be the three seeded sides in Wednesday’s pool stage draw for the 2018 Mopani Copper Mines COSAFA Under-20 Championships.

The draw will be held in the host city of Kitwe, Zambia ahead of the tournament set for December 2 to 14.

The three seeded sides will head pools A, B and C with Zambia claiming position A1 in Group A, South Africa taking B1 in Group B and Lesotho penned in for C1 in Group C.

The remaining nine sides will be placed in two pots based on their ranking according to their performance at last year’s COSAFA Under-20 Championships.

Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Swaziland will be placed in Pot 1, with Mozambique, Mauritius, Angola, Botswana and newcomers Reunion in Pot 2.

Each group will have four nations with only the top team in each pool and the best-placed runner-up set to advance to the semi-finals.

The winner of Group B will take on the best-placed runner-up in the semi-finals, while the top two sides in Groups A and C will face-off in the knockout stage.

The format is the same as last year, when East African guest nation Uganda topped Group A. South Africa won Group B while the Makoanyane XI were the winners of Group C. North African guest nation Egypt advanced from Group B as the best-placed runner-up with six points before falling to Amajita in the semis while Lesotho overcame Uganda.

2018 Mopani Copper Mines COSAFA Under-20 Championships draw:

Seeded Teams:

Group A – Zambia (host country)

Group B – South Africa (winners in 2017)

Group C – Lesotho (runners-up in 2017)

Pot 1

Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Swaziland

Pot 2

Mozambique, Mauritius, Angola, Reunion, Botswana

COSAFA Under-20 Championships return to Zambia in 2018

Lesotho will return to the COSAFA Under-20 Championships
looking to go one better than last year's final defeat to South Africa...

The 2018 COSAFA Under-20 Championships are set to light up Zambia from November 30 to December 13 in the latest installment of the regional showpiece.

The tournament  has been a breeding ground for Southern African talent down the years and will again be staged in Kitwe following the successful hosting of the event last year where South Africa were crowned champions after they defeated Lesotho 2-1 in the decider.

Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe have confirmed their participation and they will be joined by associate member Reunion, who will take part in a COSAFA tournament for the first time.

Hosts Zambia will be keen to regain the title they lost last year while fans will get to see a new batch of young stars from the Southern African region.

The COSAFA Under-20 Championships have played a vital role in developing talent through the year

Running through the list of past stars to grace the finals reads like a Who’s Who of Southern African football and all benefitted from the exposure to top level competition.

From a South African perspective, the likes of Bokang Mothoana, Tumelo Khutlang and Likuena captain Mafa Moremoholo have forged international careers at the Under-20 showpiece.

For South Africa the likes of Itumeleng Khune, Lerato Chabangu, Daine Klate, Elrio van Heerden and Lebohang Mokoena all represented their country at this level and went  on to forge successful club and international careers.

Other young stars such as Clifford Mulenga and Isaac Chansa (both Zambia), Tinashe Nengomasha and Onismor Bhasera (both Zimbabwe) as well as Jimmy Zakazaka (Malawi), have used the tournament to persuade clubs outside of their country they have a bright future in the game.

The COSAFA Under-20 Championships were first played in 1983 but as a little-recognised get-together of a few of the stalwarts of the region, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana.

Because of apartheid, South Africa only entered the fray for the first time in 1993.

Those early years were dominated by the ‘Two Zs’, with Zambia winning six and Zimbabwe three of the first nine tournaments held.

South Africa were the first team to break the duopoly when they triumphed in 2000 having been losing finalists in 1995 and 1999.

Madagascar became only the fourth country to win the event when they surprisingly triumphed in 2005 beating Lesotho 1-0 in the final in the final.

Before Lesotho three years ago, the previous two installments, in 2010 and 2011, were hosted by Botswana, with Zambia extending their winning streak to three with success in both.

Zambia added an 11th title in 2016 when they romped through the competition defeating hosts South Africa 2-1 in the final.

South Africa regained the trophy last year after Zambia surprisingly exited in the pool stages. 

Makoanyane XI coach Bob Mafoso has named a preliminary 23-man squad for the tournament...

More than lifting the trophy, however, the COSAFA Under-20 Championships is about developing the talent of tomorrow and giving young players the chance to compete with their peers in a highly-competitive environment that should help prepare them for the challenges of future international football.

Lesotho Under-20 Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Jessy Matsie (Lioli), Teboho Khoabane (Swallows), Retšelisitsoe Marake (Likhopo)

Defenders:

Liteboho Nkune (Kick4Life), Tuntu Moroahae (Likhopo), Lekhooa Khoete (Bantu), Molikeng Makhebesela (Matlama), Shali Lekhotla (Sefotha-fotha)

Midfielders:

Bonang Mohapi (Kick4Life), Keketso Lipholo (Kick4Life), Tsokolo Nyamatane (Lijabatho), Bokang  Makhomo (Lijabatho), Mafa Mokhoele (Qoaling Highlanders), Bokang Mokhele (Lioli), Tumelo Makha (Lioli), Percy Mohani (LCS), Khemisi Maeza (Matlama)

Strikers:

Sanele Phantse (Kick4Life), Thaane Mokoena (Liphakoe), Tsotang Malesela (Manonyane), Tšeliso Botsane (Kick4Life)

Previous Winners:

1983    Zambia

1985    Zimbabwe

1986    Zambia

1988    Zimbabwe

1990    Zimbabwe

1993    Zambia

1995    Zambia

1997    Zambia

1999    Zambia

2000    South Africa

2001    Zimbabwe

2002    Zimbabwe

2003    Zambia

2004    South Africa

2005    Madagascar

2006    South Africa

2007    Zimbabwe
2008    South Africa

2009    Zambia

2010    Zambia

2011    Zambia

2013    South Africa

2016    Zambia

2017    South Africa

Most Wins:

11 – Zambia

6 – Zimbabwe, South Africa

1 – Madagascar

Images of 2017

Images from the 2017 Mopani Copper Mines COSAFA Under-20 Championship final between South Africa and Lesotho. South Africa won 2-1:

Lesotho falls just short of COSAFA Under-20 title

Lesotho striker Roboama Koloti (right) tussles with South Africa’s
Siphumelele Mbulu during the 2017 COSAFA Under-20 final...

Lesotho fell just short of claiming its first regional title after a 2-1 loss to South Africa in the final of the 2017 Mopani Copper Mines COSAFA Under-20 Championships at the Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe, Zambia on Saturday.

Despite a brilliant long range strike from Rethabile Mokokoane, the Makoanyane XI came out second best in a hard-fought game.

South Africa’s goals were scored by Lyle Foster and Kamogelo Sambo as Amajita claimed their sixth regional title.

In the third-place playoff, North African guest nation Egypt finished third when they beat fellow invitees Uganda 3-1.

In the final, Lesotho didn’t make the best start as Leslie Notši’s side fell behind just five minutes into the game when Foster scored his third goal of the tournament with a neat finish into the bottom corner after striker partner Luvuyo Mkatshana had been tackled in the box.  

Things went from bad to worse for Lesotho just before halftime when Amajita made it 2-0 when Kamogelo Sambo bundled the ball home after Keanu Cupido’s close range effort had been parried by substitute Makoanyane XI goalkeeper Silase Kopano.

Lesotho almost found a way back into the game late in the first half when Bonang Mohapi’s freekick struck a post before bouncing away to safety.  

But Mohapi’s freekick did give Lesotho confidence and the side came out a different team in the second half.

The Makoanyane XI’s improvement was rewarded in the 59th minute when Rethabile Mokokoane, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, shot from 40-yards and his wonderful striker nestled into the top corner before Sanele Tshabalala could react.

The goal galvanised Lesotho and Notsi’s side could have equalised a few minutes later when Mokoteli Mohapi found himself with an empty net to aim at but he side-footed his shot wide.

Despite their efforts, that would be the closest the Makoanyane XI would come to finding an equaliser.

Consolation for Lesotho was keeper Monaheng Ramalefane being named the goalkeeper of the tournament for his excellent performances while Lesotho also picked up the Fair Play Award.

However, the country’s wait for an international continues.

Lesotho to meet South Africa in 2017 COSAFA Under-20 final

Lesotho will South Africa after beating Uganda in pouring rain...

Lesotho will play South Africa in the final of the 2017 Mopani Copper Mines COSAFA Under-20 Championships on Saturday after downing Uganda 6-5 on penalties in the semi-finals.

Leslie Notši’s charges will be looking to win the country’s first-ever international tournament at any level.

It will be the Makoanyane XI’s third appearance in the final previous appearances in 1990 and 2005.

Lesotho has reached Saturday’s final on the back of a defence that has only conceded one goal in four games and shone again against Uganda.

The match against Uganda was played in bucketing rain at the Nkana Stadium and was a tense affair with both sides wasting good openings.

For Uganda, the best chances fell to Frank Tumwesigye put a good headed opportunity high and wide while the side’s top marksman Mohammad Shaban was denied from close-range.

At the other end, Lesotho’s top scorer Roboama Koloti shot wildly at the near post after receiving a piercing long pass from Bonang Mohapi.

In the penalty shootout that followed after a goalless 90 minutes both sides scored their first five kicks to take the shoot-out to sudden death where Mujahid Ogama crucially missed for the Ugandans.

Lesotho will now play neighbours South Africa who defeated Egypt 1-0 in a feisty affair thanks to a winner from Luvuyo Mkatshana just before halftime.

South Africa claimed their victory over Egypt despite playing the final 20 minutes with 10 men following the sending off of Lehlogonolo Matlou for a second yellow card. It will be the first time Lesotho and South Africa meet in in a major international final.

Semi-final results:
South Africa 1 (Mkatshana 41’), Egypt 0
Uganda 0, Lesotho 0 (Lesotho won 6-5 on penalties)

On Saturday:
Third-Place play-off (10:30)

Egypt v Uganda – Nkana Stadium

Final (14:00)

South Africa v Lesotho – Nkana Stadium

Group Stage Standings:

Group A

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Uganda	3	1	2	0	5	3	+2	5
2	Malawi	3	1	2	0	4	3	+1	5
3	Zambia	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	4
4	Swaziland	3	0	1	2	4	7	-3	1

Group B

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	South Africa	3	3	0	0	5	1	+4	9
2	Egypt	3	2	0	1	4	2	+2	6
3	Mozambique	3	1	0	2	2	2	0	3
4	Mauritius	3	0	0	3	0	6	-6	0

Group C

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Lesotho	3	1	2	0	2	1	+1	5
2	Zimbabwe	3	1	2	0	1	0	+1	5
3	Namibia	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	4
4	Angola	3	0	1	2	0	2	-2	1

Tournament Stats:
Matches Played: 20
Goals scored: 32

Top Goalscorers:

3 goals – Luvuyo Mkatshana (South Africa), Muhammad Shaban (Uganda)

2 goals – Roboama Koloti (Lesotho), Abdelrahman Amr (Egypt), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Order Mamba (Swaziland), Francisco Mwepu (Zambia), Patrick Phiri (Malawi), Muzi Tsabedze (Swaziland)

1 goals – Hussein Abdelkader (Egypt), Peter Banda (Malawi), Kamo-Kamo Cumbane (Mozambique), Romario Hawiseb (Namibia), Domingos Junior (Mozambique), Mohamed Karem (Egypt), Francisco Madinga (Malawi), Stephen Mukwala (Uganda), Enzo Mungendje (Namibia), King Nasama (Zimbabwe), Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (South Africa), Allan Okello (Uganda)