Zambia retain Cosafa Under-20 title

Zambia celebrate their 2011 Cosafa Under-20 Championships victory

Zambia retained their Metropolitan Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships title after a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Angola in the final played at the University of Botswana Stadium in Gaborone on Saturday.

The match looked destined for the lottery of a penalty shootout with the teams locked at 1-1 at fulltime, but the Young Chipolopolo found a winner in injury-time to seal their third consecutive win in this competition.

Angola gave a good account of themselves nevertheless and had deservedly taken the lead on 32 minutes when Paciencia Cristovao headed a looping effort into the net as Zambia battled to get out of first gear in the game.

Zambia were the quickest out of the blocks in the second half however and Ronald Kampamba shot wide minutes into the second period. Zambia were level on 66 minutes when Evans Kangwa netted his seventh goal of the championships.

After finding space on the right, he blasted the ball into the roof of the net from the angle.

The game remained tight until a frantic finish.

Angola’s Adriano almost claimed the winner late on but Zambia goalkeeper Moses Mapulanga produced a fine save after Adriano showed good feet to get his shot away from the edge of the area. Minutes later it was Zambia who scored. Kampamba showed calmness under pressure to provide a perfect lob over Angolan keeper Francisco Lirio in the 91st minute and hand the trophy back to the jubilant Young Chipolopolo.

Earlier in the day hosts Botswana collected the bronze medal when they beat Malawi 1-0 in a hard-fought clash that ended with the Young Flames reduced to 10 men.

Botswana showed themselves to have resilience in defence throughout the tournament – the only two goals they have conceded in four games in the competition came in the semifinal defeat to Zambia.

They were solid at the back against Malawi again, bar some early nervous moments, and managed to nick an all-important goal on 38 minutes. Ogomoditswe Baoleni smashed the ball home after an attack that originated from the right. Malawian goalkeeper Carlington Msomali punched a cross straight into the path of the striker and he made no mistake with his finish.

Dalisto Sailesi really should have brought Malawi level in the second period, but missed an excellent chance after being set up by the lively Tony Chitsulo.

Malawi's Kondwani Lufeyo received his marching orders four minutes into injury-time after a bad tackle on Tshwanelo Mojanaga, and the Young Flames were unable to force an equaliser to send the game to a shootout. 

Third-place playoff
Botswana 1-0 Malawi

Final
Zambia 2-1 Angola

Cosafa Under-20 Championships: Angola vs Zambia

Metropolitan Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships

Angola vs. Zambia – Final Preview

Defending champions Zambia take on Angola in the final of the 2011 Metropolitan Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships that will be played at the University of Botswana Stadium in Gaborone later today.

Zambia beat hosts Botswana in semi-finals

The title decider will bring the curtain down on a magnificent regional championships that have yielded much excitement for supporters, with an incredible 80 goals scored in just 20 games so far, an average of four goals per game.

Zambia have won the last three titles at the tournament, while by contrast Angola are still seeking their first, despite reaching the final three years in a row between 2000 and 2002.

It is difficult to pick a winner from this one. The Zambians have looked solid and steady throughout, with their highlight a 5-1 hammering of South Africa in their final Group C game on Tuesday. Angola have an explosive mix of talent though and have shown on more than one occasion in this tournament that they can come from behind if needs be. They certainly have goals in them, and look to be getting better as the tournament wears on.

One area of concern might be their defence, which has conceded 10 goals in four games, compared to the Zambians who have let in just four, three of those on one game against East African guests Tanzania.

Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships - Day 6

2011 Metropolitan Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships

Day Six

It was goals galore on the sixth day of the 2011 Metropolitan Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships in Botswana as the semifinal line-up was completed after much drama.

A total of 29 goals were scored in five matches with some superb attacking play that thrilled the local crowds in Gaborone and Molepolole.

Hosts Botswana booked their place in the semifinals with a 3-0 win over Swaziland in their Group A encounter at the Molepolole Stadium.

Needing to win by more than two clear goals in order to move ahead of Mozambique on goal-difference, the Botswana side left it late but came up with the goods when it mattered.

A brace from substitute Unobatsha Mbaiwa helped the home side to their victory, with the decisive third goal coming six minutes from time.

Botswana now advance to Thursday’s semifinals, where they will face Zambia, who thumped South Africa 5-1 to seal their spot in the Last 4 from Group C.



The Young Chipolopolo

Zambia opened the scoring midway through the first half when Evans Kangwa took advantage of some hesitant defending to toe-poke the ball home. That was the way it stayed until the 57th minute when more poor defending allowed Ronald Kampamba to intercept a back-pass and score. And it was 3-0 two minutes later when Shadreck Malambo netted to put the result beyond doubt.

Kangwa got his second just two minutes after that as the scoreline took on an embarrassing look for the South Africans, before Sanele Khuzwayo added a consolation from the spot. But there was more to come from Young Chipolopolo when Kampamba got his second and Zambia’s fifth just before the end.

In the other game in the pool, Tanzania completed their expected win over Mauritius by a 3-0 scoreline to finish in second in the group. Simon Msuvan got their opener and the third goal, while sandwiched in between was an own goal from Moedine Bradley.

Angola advanced to the semi-finals from Group D after a thrilling two matches in the pool that produced no less than 17 goals!

The Angolans came back from 3-1 down to defeat Namibia 4-3 and seal top spot and a meeting with Malawi on Thursday.

Angolan hero Nicolu Adriano got their opener, but Petrus Shitembi drew Namibia level with an excellent free-kick, before Benson Chilongo grabbed two more to put them 3-1 in front. The game turned on a penalty award and a red card though as Okeri Maekopo received his marching orders for giving away the foul and Adriano converted the spot-kick.

That made it 3-2 and the Angolans were swarming over their neighbours, getting reward as Adriano completed his hat-trick for 3-3. Paciencia Cristovao gave the Angolans the win with a fourth late on to complete a stunning come-back.

The other match in the pool between Zimbabwe and Madagascar was another humdinger that finished 5-5.

Madagascar’s goals came via Razanakoto Fiononana (two), Kassah Voavy (two) and Ratsiovoson Jonathan, while Zimbabwe netted through Munyaradzi Muchenje (three), Ronald Chitiyo and Trevor Mutero.

Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships - Day 5

2011 Metropolitan Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships

Day Five Review

Angola took a giant step towards the semi-finals of the 2011 Metropolitan COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships when they beat Zimbabwe 3-2 in Group D on Monday to maintain their position on top of the pool.

The Angolans now require just a point from their final encounter with Namibia on Tuesday to seal their place in the Last 4 of what has been an evenly contested group so far.

But Zimbabwe is now out of the competition and there will be no repeat of the semi-final appearance in 2010, when they went on to collect bronze in the competition.

It all started well enough for the Young Warriors as Trevor Mutero collected a Ronald Chitiyo pass to score on 16 minutes.

The lead lasted just four minutes though, as Nicolu Adriano put Afonso Eddie through to equalise.

And the Angolans had the lead just before the break too when the impressive Adriano netted for them, ghosting past the lacklustre Zimbabwean defence.

It was 3-1 soon after the break when Almeida Valdemar profited from more good work from Adriano.

Zimbabwe gave themselves hope though as Marvelous Nakamba lived up to his name with a sublime finish to make it 3-2. But try as they might they could not force an equaliser.

In the other match in Group D, Namibia defeated Madagascar 3-1 but the islanders may count themselves unfortunate not to have got something from the game. Petrus Shitembi handed Namibia the lead on 35 minutes, before he added a second with an excellent free-kick just before halftime. Edmund Kambanda added a third for the Young Brave Warriors just after halftime, but from then on the game was totally dominated by Madagascar.

They got a magnificent goal back through Kassah Voavy as he thundered the ball past Collin Ndjai in the Namibian goal for arguably the finest strike of the tournament so far. The score remained 3-1 and Namibia have given themselves hope if they can beat Angola on Tuesday.

In between these two games was a dead-rubber match that was won 3-1 by Lesotho over Seychelles in Group B, with Malawi already having progressed from this pool.

Keddy Moustache put Seychelles ahead on 81 minutes, but late goals from Tšoanelo Koetle, Mkwananzi Motlomelo and Jeremiah Kamele gave Lesotho the comfortable win.

Lesotho’s road to 2014

Likuena’s schedule for 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifying has been finalised. Lesotho will be in group D, the group of death.

Lesotho will open its campaign with the toughest game in the group with a trip to Ghana to face the World Cup quarterfinalists. The match will take place in weekend of June 1 to 5 next year.

The following weekend time Likuena will then host Sudan at the Setsoto Stadium in what should be a momentous occasion at the national stadium.

Lesotho will then have to wait until March 2013 to host Zambia in the third match of the group stage. Two games (Zambia away and Ghana at home) will then come in quick succession in June, before Likuena travel to Sudan to round off their campaign in September 2013.

Lesotho’s 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign

Group D

1. Ghana

2. Zambia

3. Sudan

4. Lesotho

Matchday 1

Ghana vs. Lesotho, 1-5 June 2012

Matchday 2

Lesotho vs. Sudan, 8-12 June

Matchday 3

Lesotho vs. Zambia, 22-26 March 2013

Matchday 4

Zambia vs. Lesotho, 7-11 June 2013

Matchday 5

Lesotho vs. Ghana, 14-18 June

Matchday 6

Sudan vs. Lesotho, 6-10 September